Wuhan’s Abandoned Water Park – 莲花湖水上乐园
Yangtze River Bridge
Known as the first bridge on the Yangtze River, this construction project was the first in the efforts of turning the three towns of Hanyang, Hankou, and Wuchang into what is now known as Wuhan. This double-decker bridge with a four-lane road on the top level and a double track railway on the bottom has now become one of the main attractions for tourists visiting Wuhan. The bridge itself was completed in 1957 and encompasses both Soviet and Chinese communist imagery into its architecture. The Wuhan skyline and Yellow Crane Tower are the focal points when looking from the bridge, but there are still many places to explore off the beaten track.
Crossing Over Into Hanyang
Starting from Wuchang crossing over into Hanyang, the only thing in view is the Guishan Television Tower. Many tourists will simply walk from one end of the bridge to the other. At the end of the bridge tourists usually just turn right back around towards the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuchang. The view of the Yangtze River and the city of Wuhan can be breathtaking on a clear day. Unknown to many tourists there is actually a hidden gem tucked along the base of the bridge. The curious sight of a rusted sign and a rainbow-colored sign can be seen peeking its way up above the treeline. Many locals have seen the water park a million times from their car windows driving to and from work, but few have actually taken the time to explore it.
Getting into the Water Park
After crossing over into Hanyang and descending from guishan （龟山）, the north entrance to the water park can be found on lianhua road (莲花路). In recent years the parking lot has been turned into a distribution center and has a few drivers lazily lounging in the cabs of their trucks. Between the front of the water park and the back of a huge KTV facing binjiang avenue（滨江大道）are a few barbecue restaurants set up against a chain link fence which blocks off the front of the park. The only way to get inside the park grounds is to turn right after going through the North entrance, passing an abandoned restaurant on your left. Just after the restaurant, you will find a side entrance to the park. The water park has a few pools with tacky plaster animal sculptures as decoration nearby. The once vibrant murals of cartoon children playing in the water are being slowly chipped away due to lack of maintenance, further adding to the decrepit nature of the park.
View from the Top
The rainbow-colored slide is the main attraction in the water park, standing tall in the dead center of the facility. After passing by overturned food stands and benches, the rusted metal stairs can be found on the back end of the waterslide. Due to years of neglect, the steps to the top are slowly crumbling and falling apart. As you are walking up to the platform you will hear the whole structure groan. After avoiding holes and slowly climbing up to the summit you will get a view of the whole park and the nearby river. The whole slide seems as if it were to collapse on itself at any given minute, as a traveler you may be unable to help yourself by wanting to climb to the top of the slide. Bear in mind that with each step up the stairs, the steps are slowly reaching the point of breaking to pieces.
Left to Rust
Little information can be found online as to the exact reasons and time when the water park closed down. Locals are even a bit unsure stating that the park has been closed for as long as they can remember. One thing is for sure, this water park is not going to be reopening anytime soon. The rust alone has left all the metal structures unsalvageable. Grass and weeds have overtaken the slides and there is more green sludge than actual water in the pools. Once you find the entrance, this site for the more adventurous tourists is easily assessable when visiting the nearby Yangtze river bridge and the historic lake of qintai (琴台). For lovers of dark tourism and urban exploring, 莲花湖水上乐园 is a must do when visiting Wuhan.
Wuhan After Dark
As night begins to settle in, the area around the water park and lianhuahu turns into a red light district. Young girls with bleached white faces and revealing outfits parade themselves through the back entrance of the “KTV”. Many karaoke bars in Asia are fronts for brothels and other shady businesses. The one located in front of this abandoned water park is the largest I have ever seen. Many locals were unwilling to admit the true function and nature of the work that goes on there, simply stating that it is a place to sing. Some young men were a little more direct explaining that places like this exist all over the world and that it is just natural that people should frequent such places.
Wuhan’s motto is: “Wuhan different every day”. While this slogan may represent a bright and modern future, the reality is that it makes for a polluted and inconvenient present. Ceaseless demolition and construction is the norm in Wuhan, meaning that places for urban exploration may not be here tomorrow. Be sure to visit Lianhuahu’s abandoned water park while it lasts!
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Location of Hanyang Lianhuahu Water Park:
