99% of people visiting Luodai Ancient Town miss this century-old park

When wandering through Luodai Ancient Town, if I hadn’t accidentally turned into Bajiao Well Street, I almost would have missed this Hakka park hidden deep in an alley. It stands quietly like a low-key elder, beside the bustling ancient town for nearly a century, wrapped in lush greenery with blue bricks and gray tiles, even the air carries the lazy feel of old times. As soon as you enter the garden gate carved with golden dragons and lotus flowers, an overwhelming wave of greenery floods over you. Tall trees block the sky and shade the sun, sunlight filters through the leaves and scatters on the stone path, startling a few sparrows resting in the grass. Not far ahead, you’ll encounter Bajiao Well—the well platform made of red sandstone is a neat octagonal shape, and a nearby stone tablet tells its legend: it is said that the jade belt of Liu Chan, the last emperor of Shu Han, fell into this well, and “falling belt” gradually evolved into “Luodai.” Moss climbs up the well’s edge, suggesting that a thousand years of history are condensed in the clear water beneath the well cover. The old buildings in the park are even more intriguing. The Ningcui Tower stands quietly under the shade, a two-story wooden structure with vermilion pillars and carved window lattices, still carrying the elegance of the Republic of China era. Locals say this used to be a men’s teahouse, also served as a library, housing the “Universal Library.” The marks on the wooden beams silently tell stories of the past. There is also the Yiqin Pavilion by the pond, with flying eaves like birds spreading their wings, green gauze curtains swaying gently in the breeze. A stone tablet nearby marks it as a “Historic Building of Chengdu,” looking as if it just stepped out of an old painting. The old teahouse inside the park is full of everyday life. Bamboo chairs are casually arranged, calligraphy on the walls is vigorous, with large characters like “Calm Heart” and “As You Wish” written freely, and a whole wall carved with the twenty-four solar terms, full of ancient charm. Afternoon sunlight slants in, a few elderly people sit around a wooden table, leisurely drinking tea and chatting, the bamboo recliners creak, mingling with the tea fragrance, perfectly portraying the relaxed lifestyle of old Chengdu. Hakka Park is not large, but it feels like a time capsule, holding the past of Hakka immigrants, the lively atmosphere of century-old teahouses, and the tranquility of old buildings. If you come to Luodai, why not turn into this patch of greenery, listen to the legend of Bajiao Well, and daydream a while in the old teahouse— After all, the true charm of an ancient town is often hidden in such niche corners.