Asia Di Yigao Fountain

Updated April 15, 2024

## Asia Di Yigao Fountain (Heyuan, Guangdong): What to Know Before You Go

Asia Di Yigao Fountain—also marketed locally as the “First High Fountain in Asia” (亚洲第一高喷泉)—is the nightly music-and-light fountain on the Xinfeng River in central Heyuan. It sits between Heyuan Bridge and Zhuhe Bridge, just southeast of the Datong Rd × Yanjiang Middle Rd intersection in Yuancheng District. Entry is free, and the show typically runs around 8:00–8:30 pm with a recommended viewing time of ~30 minutes.

### Why it matters
– Signature river show: Built in 1998–1999, the project became a defining nighttime sightline for Heyuan’s riverfront. Local sources report a main jet height up to 169 m, with multi-nozzle choreography and a synchronized soundtrack—i.e., a classic “music fountain” format designed for after-dark viewing.
– Location clarity: If you’re mapping it, use the Yanjiang Middle Rd riverwalk in Yuancheng District—you’ll find signed lookouts and a continuous promenade facing the spray zone in mid-river.

> ⚠️ About the “Asia’s No. 1” claim: Heyuan’s fountain is widely branded as “Asia’s First High Fountain.” However, Jeddah’s King Fahd Fountain (West Asia) has been operating since the 1980s at a much greater height. Treat Heyuan’s superlative as a local/historic marketing title, not a current, region-wide record.

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## Quick facts (verified)

– Official/English names you’ll see: “Asia Di Yigao Fountain,” “First High Fountain in Asia,” “Heyuan highest fountain,” “Xinfeng River music fountain.” All refer to the same river installation downtown.
– Where exactly: ~100 m SE of Datong Rd × Yanjiang Middle Rd, Yuancheng District (walk the riverside path toward the river’s midpoint opposite the promenade).
– When to go: Night only—the show window commonly listed as 20:00–20:30, free to watch. Some listings show a “closed today, open tomorrow” toggle—so plan for minor schedule variability.
– Build timeline: Groundbreaking Oct 1, 1998; completion Feb 6, 1999.
– Reported specs: Max jet to ~169 m; multi-nozzle group sprays; extensive underwater lighting (legacy accounts mention 18 spray nozzles and ~610 lights). Treat numbers as reported rather than official technical specs.

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## Best places to watch

– Yanjiang Middle Rd Promenade (primary)
This is the easiest, most direct line-of-sight to the central spray zone. You’re at eye-level with the choreography, with room to move along the balustrade for different angles.

– Heyuan Bridge or Zhuhe Bridge (context views)
Both bookend the display area. From either bridge you’ll get a symmetrical, wide frame of the river and skyline—ideal if you want the fountain plus city lights in a single shot. (Note: be mindful of pedestrian space and safety on bridge walks.) Goes East

– Riverside hotels facing the show
Some accommodations market “Asia’s No.1 Fountain” proximity as a selling point; river-view rooms can offer a comfortable, crowd-free vantage if you time check-in for the evening performance.

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## Practical tips that actually help

– Arrive 10–15 minutes early. The promenade fills just before 8 pm. Early arrival lets you pick a clear foreground and avoid after-dark fumbling for a spot. Listed show length is about 30 minutes.
– If winds pick up, expect lower spray. Tall jets are sensitive to crosswinds and may be moderated for drift control—common for high-plume fountains worldwide. (Local listings vary night-to-night; height claims are best seen as maximum capabilities rather than guarantees.)
– Photography: Use a fast shutter for crisp water columns; switch to slower shutter for silky “fan” effects. The lighting is bright enough to hand-hold modern phones, but long-exposure fans should pack a mini-tripod for the railing. (General technique note; not a site rule.)
– Keep it pedestrian-only. You don’t need tickets or turnstiles—the whole point is riverside public viewing along Yanjiang Middle Rd. That also means typical urban riverwalk etiquette: mind bikes, strollers, and vendor carts.

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## How to place it in a Heyuan itinerary

– Pair with museums nearby: Heyuan’s Dinosaur Museum is the city’s other calling card; do the museum in the afternoon, dinner on the river, then the fountain at 20:00. Several travel listings put these in the same general orbit for visitors.
– Expect local evening energy: Reviews consistently mention the fountain as a convenient “after-dinner stroll” activity because of the central location and short, fixed-time format.

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## Context & accuracy notes (read this if you care about the details)

– Superlatives:
The site is widely labeled (in Chinese and English travel pages) as “Asia’s First High Fountain” and “Asia’s No.1 Fountain” with reported heights up to ~169 m. These phrases appear in tourism content and hotel pages; they are marketing descriptors, not a globally maintained engineering record. The much taller King Fahd Fountain in Jeddah predates Heyuan’s build, so “No. 1 in Asia” should be treated as historic/local branding, not a present-tense fact.

– Operating time variability:
Multiple listings show 8:00–8:30 pm as the standard window, but day-specific toggles (“closed today; open tomorrow at 8:00 pm”) appear on ticketing/OTA sites. If you only have one night, double-check the day-of in your hotel lobby or a local listings app.

– Build & placement:
The fountain sits in the middle of the Xinfeng River, between Heyuan Bridge and Zhuhe Bridge, a detail consistent across Chinese-language and English travel pages, including historical notes on the 1998–1999 construction window.

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## Nearby & pairing ideas (within the same city core)

– Heyuan Dinosaur Museum (family-friendly, pairs well pre-show).
– Heyuan Museum / Culture Square (cultural stopovers, day-time).

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## Summary

If you’re in Heyuan, the Asia Di Yigao Fountain is a free, central, and time-bounded night activity with easy waterfront access—ideal to cap a day that includes the Dinosaur Museum and a riverfront dinner. Expect a 30-minute music-fountain show around 20:00, best seen from the Yanjiang Middle Rd promenade or either bridge for a wide frame. Enjoy the spectacle, but treat the “Asia’s No. 1” tag as heritage branding rather than a current record.

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Data sources used to verify location, schedule, build dates, and common naming: Trip.com/TripAdvisor listings, Chinese-language references, and long-standing travel pages. Variations in hours and superlatives were flagged where applicable.

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