China Travel Guide

Jimei Turtle Park is located in the southeastern part of Xiamen. It covers an area of nearly 9,000 square meters. It was constructed in 1951 and it got its name because of the shape of the park, which is like a turtle head. The whole park is close to the sea with beautiful scenery. Jimei Turtle Park was built by Tan Kah-Kee during his life time and was later chosen as his gravesite. Mr.Tan was a famous overseas Chinese leader who devoted himself wholly to education. The Jimei Turtle Park project was divided into three parts: the covered corridor, Jimei Liberation Monument and Mr. Tan Kah-kee’s tomb. After full deliberation and preparation, the construction of the Turtle Park began in 1951. Mr. Tan was general designer and engineer. Ten years passed from the beginning of construction in 1951, with the essential completion in 1957 with the burying of Mr. Tan and the covering of the tomb. The covered corridor is 50 meters long, on both sides of which stood two granite walls. The bottom of Tan Kah-Kee’s deeds is pasted faced down, the green granite is decorated, and the magnificent relieves carved 58 pictures shown historical stories of China. In the middle of the left wall are 24 pictures about the prophesy of Zhu Geliang who was a smart strategist in the Three Kingdoms period (25-280 AD) and at the head are pictures about Chinese traditional opera. Jimei Liberation Monument, with an inscription of Mao Zedong on the front and a tablet record written by Mr. Tan on the back, stood in the centre of the park. The stone foundation of the monument consists of two stages. The low stage has eight steps which represent the eight-year Anti-Japanese War, the upper stage consists of three steps, symbolizing the three year Liberation War.

Name: Xiamen Jimei Turtle Park (Jimei Haigui Gongyuan)
City: Xiamen
Address: Southeast of Jimei County, Fujian Province
Admission: Free