Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Sign Park in Puer

Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Sign Park, a structure built at a high cost in the city of Mojiang, integrates astronomy, geography, botany, scientific knowledge, garden art, and tourism culture. It is acclaimed as a “provincial patriotic education unit.”

Geographic Location

Mojiang Hani Autonomous County is located between 22°51′ to 23°59′ north latitude and 101°07′ to 102°04′ east longitude. The Tropic of Cancer passes through its county seat. Approved by the national government, the provincial government decided to construct Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Sign Park in the city of Mojiang at a high location.

Park Description

Built in 1997, the sign park covers an area of 1500 square meters. It integrates astronomy, geography, botany, scientific knowledge, garden art, and tourism culture. Centered around the latitude line of the Tropic of Cancer at 23°26′ north, it spans a 500-meter segment of the Tropic of Cancer. The park features architectural sculptures and main signage such as “Sun Road,” “Kua Fu Chasing the Sun,” “Tropic of Cancer Gate,” “Sundial Square,” and “Four Seasons,” creating a vivid spatial series. The Science Museum expresses understanding of nature, life, and sunlight, depicting the cosmic world from ancient times to today’s cultural and scientific development. Through precise technological displays, it accurately showcases the geographic location and changes of the Tropic of Cancer, allowing people to “capture” the shadow of the Tropic of Cancer every summer solstice.

Visitors can follow the Tropic of Cancer and naturally roam along the mountains, blending into the embrace of the earth. The paths here are winding and shaded by lush trees, resonating with cicada songs and bird calls. Within the park, there are amenities such as tea rooms, children’s entertainment areas, pavilions, dining areas, a small commodity market, and comprehensive service facilities.

While enjoying the architecture, sculptures, garden art, and gaining scientific knowledge, tourists can also taste Pu’er famous tea and Mojiang fine wine.

On December 22, 1997 (Winter Solstice), Yunnan Province held the “97 Yunnan Mojiang – Taiwan Chiayi Tropic of Cancer Academic Seminar,” where experts from Beijing and scholars from Taiwan gathered in Mojiang, further enhancing the reputation of Mojiang Tropic of Cancer Sign Park as a “provincial patriotic education unit.”

Mojian Tropic of Cancer Marker Park

The Tropic of Cancer Marker Park is located on the western side of Mojian County. The park centers around the unique geographic marker of the “Tropic of Cancer,” blending Hani ethnic culture with the mysterious twin phenomena. It features diverse tourism resources, including astronomy, geography, landscaping, horticulture, sculpture, folklore, and ethnic culture. The park is designed along the Tropic of Cancer, which crosses the town. The terrain’s natural slopes create a dynamic and integrated three-dimensional landscape. With its innovative design, distinctive shapes, and unique style, the park presents an extraordinary visual experience. On the summer solstice, the sun aligns directly on the Tropic of Cancer, creating the “no shadow” phenomenon. The park also showcases unique astronomical and geographical features like “Sun and Moon Shimmer” and the intermingling of tropical and temperate vegetation, with the Tropic of Cancer and Mojian’s twin wells symbolizing the area’s extraordinary twin phenomenon.

Park Overview: Founded in 1993, the Tropic of Cancer Marker Park is one of the largest and most comprehensive Tropic of Cancer marker parks in the world. The park, themed around “Tropic of Cancer Culture,” stretches 500 meters along the Tropic of Cancer. It includes various architectural features like “Sun’s Path,” “Kua Fu Chasing the Sun,” and “Gate of the Tropic of Cancer,” creating an engaging space series. The park’s science museum illustrates natural, life, and solar phenomena, highlighting the cosmic world from ancient times to today’s rapid scientific advancements. It provides accurate geographic displays of the Tropic of Cancer, allowing visitors to “capture” its presence every summer solstice. Visitors can wander along the Tropic of Cancer, enjoying winding paths, cicada sounds, bird songs, tea rooms, children’s play areas, rest pavilions, and dining facilities. While exploring the park’s architecture, sculptures, and landscape art, visitors can also sample Pu’er tea and Mojian wine.

Attractions: The park covers over 200 acres with a unique design and style. It uses the 2038 position of the Tropic of Cancer as the park’s central axis. The layout follows the natural terrain from the base of the hill to the top, including fifteen key attractions: Gate of Return, Sun’s Path, Kua Fu Chasing the Sun, Stone Circle, Transcendence, Sun and Moon Shimmer, Sundial, Solar Observation Tower, Main Marker Pavilion, Twin Star Plaza, Planetarium, Stone Circle Plaza, Hani Fire-Making Platform, West Gate Scenic Steps, and Moon Plaza.

Main Attractions:

• Planetarium: Known as “The First Telescope in Southern Yunnan,” this disc-shaped building is the largest single-structure planetarium on the northern Tropic of Cancer in the Eastern Hemisphere. It houses five sections: Earth Hall, Sun Hall, Moon Hall, Constellation Hall, and Research Base. The facility includes a 40 cm telescope with a 480x magnification lens, allowing clear exploration of lunar, solar, and planetary mysteries.
• Twin Stars: The Tropic of Cancer divides Mojian into two, known locally as the “Yin-Yang Line” because it separates the temperate and tropical zones. The area’s unique environment creates a “Twin City,” with over 1,200 pairs of twins, 600 of whom live along the Tropic of Cancer. The main sculpture in Twin Star Plaza depicts a young Hani couple, with the woman pregnant. The couple prays for the safe birth of their twins.
• Twin Wells: The park features two twin wells, believed to influence the birth of twins. Drinking from these wells is said to increase the chances of having twins, contributing to Mojian’s reputation as the “City of Twins” with more than 1,200 pairs.
• Hani Fire-Making Platform: Used for sacred fire-making rituals, this platform features three imposing dragons, symbolizing the triangular stove used in Hani households. Fire holds significant importance in Hani culture, often used to tell stories and pass down knowledge, while maintaining the fire’s “spirit” for family well-being.
• Main Marker Tower: Standing at 23.26 meters, the height matches the latitude of the Tropic of Cancer. The tower’s top features a “Solar Observation Hole” that allows sunlight to shine directly onto a small copper plate at noon on the summer solstice, revealing the “no shadow” phenomenon.
• Transcendence Tower: Comprising 81 steps, the tower stands 23.26 meters high, representing the latitude of the Tropic of Cancer. Climbing the steps symbolizes overcoming challenges to reach life’s peak, with Hani tradition saying that crossing the tower from east to west adds a year to one’s life, akin to a “time tunnel.”
• Sundial: This ancient timekeeping instrument uses the sun’s shadow to measure time. It consists of a gnomon (pointer) and a dial (marked base). The sundial represents a significant astronomical invention, used for thousands of years.
• Sun and Moon Shimmer: At the center of a pool are two 16-ton marble spheres representing the sun and moon. During late summer to early autumn, when the sun and moon align, the spheres cast intersecting shadows, creating the “Sun and Moon Shimmer” effect.

Visitors, surrounded by lush greenery, are awed by the natural wonders displayed in the park. They eagerly take photos at various attractions, capturing their unforgettable journey.

The vibrant red prayer ribbons represent countless visitors’ wishes. Many come to taste the water from the twin wells, hoping to return home with healthy, lively twins.

During our visit, we experienced the allure of the “Flying Magic Carpet.” Designed to blend with the natural slope, it resembles two dragons soaring into the sky. Visitors sit on the carpet, moving smoothly and comfortably while enjoying views of mysterious stone pillars and statues through the forest without having to move.

Park Qualifications:

• National 4A Scenic Area

Park Features:

• Science and culture tours, garden landscape tours, thematic gardens

Best Time to Visit:

• Spring and summer

Shopping Recommendations:

• Local specialties: Mojian purple rice, Yunnan tribute rice, Mojian cloud needle tea, spirulina, bamboo mushrooms, bamboo worms, stone clams, purple rice sweet wine.
• Specialty foods: Mojian crispy snacks, purple rice cakes, purple rice chicken stew, purple rice eight-treasure rice, purple rice steamed chicken, purple rice gourd duck, meat heart crisp, pickled grasshoppers, fried bamboo worms.

Ticket Prices:

• Admission: 60 RMB
• Sightseeing shuttle: 20 RMB round trip

Opening Hours:

• 09:00-18:00