Nanhu Ecological Park in the southern part of the city centre is one of the more substantial urban park developments in Hebei, built on land that was previously a subsidence area created by decades of coal mining beneath the city. The landscape of lakes, wetlands, and parkland was created over several decades as part of Tangshan's post-earthquake and post-industrial rehabilitation.
The park covers a large area and is genuinely pleasant to walk through. There are several lakes connected by bridges and paths, sections of restored wetland, and a botanical component with labelled plantings. It is primarily used by Tangshan residents — for morning exercise, weekend family outings, and evening walks — and gives a clear sense of how the city sees its own future: a steel city turning green.
The proximity to the earthquake memorial site makes a natural pairing. The contrast between the ruins park's preserved destruction and Nanhu's constructed renewal says something about how Tangshan has chosen to process its history.