Maling Park

Maling Park is a public park in Xingfu Subdistrict, Sucheng District, in the northern part of the old urban area of Suqian, Jiangsu, China. It combines a green city park with a memorial function, as it contains the North Jiangsu Campaign memorial and a martyrs' cemetery commemorating soldiers who died in the fighting in the region in the 1940s. Visitors walk tree-lined paths, lawns and ponds, and the memorial section has a monument, a hall and rows of graves, where a respectful, quiet manner is expected. Local residents use the park for morning exercise, tai chi, walking and chatting, which gives visitors a glimpse of everyday Suqian life. The memorial sets its own opening hours, and the admission for the park is listed as to be confirmed at the gate, so visitors should check on arrival. A visit takes one to one and a half hours. Morning in spring and autumn is the best time, with soft light and active park life, while midday summer is hot and evening can be pleasant. The memorial monument and the avenue of trees are the most photographed spots, and photography near graves should be discreet. Crowds are small outside holidays, though Qingming Festival brings ceremonies and visitors to the cemetery. The park is about 10 km from Suqian Station, and visitors usually take a taxi or Didi, using Amap or Baidu Maps with the Chinese name. Since it lies in the old Sucheng area, it can be paired with a walk along the Old Yellow River Parks. Visitors should dress simply, avoid loud behaviour in the memorial area and not climb on monuments.