Shuishang Park ("Water Park") in the southern part of Hohhot is the city's largest recreational green space, built around a large artificial lake fed by the Wusu River. The park is heavily used by local residents and lacks the historical interest of the old town quarter, but it offers a genuine sense of how a mid-sized Chinese city uses its open space. The lake has pedal boats and an amusement park section on the eastern shore; the western lakeside has quieter walking paths through willow groves.
In summer, the lake is a popular destination for weekend picnics, and the surrounding park is full of music — a mix of traditional Mongolian songs played on portable speakers and whatever is currently popular in Chinese pop music. The park is accessible by metro (Shuishang Park station on Line 1) and is a reasonable destination for an afternoon if you have exhausted the central historic sites and want to see where ordinary Hohhot residents spend their leisure time.