Yixing Enrong Archway

Yixing Enrong Archway

The Yixing Enrong Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Yixing City.

The Enrong Archway, located at the eastern end of Pailou Village, Xizhu Town, Yixing City, was built by special imperial decree of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. In June 1983, it was designated as a county-level cultural relic protection unit by the Yixing County People's Government.

Shi Yizhi (1682–1763), courtesy name Jingxian, art name Tiewai, was a native of Xiazhuang Village, Licheng Town, Liyang City. He passed the imperial examination in the 39th year of the Kangxi reign (1700) and was appointed as a reviser. He served as chief examiner in Yunnan and education intendant in Guangdong. In the first year of the Yongzheng reign (1723), he was promoted to Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, and subsequently held positions such as Vice Minister of Personnel, Censor-in-Chief, and Minister of Revenue. In the first year of the Qianlong reign (1736), he was appointed Governor-General of Huguang, later serving as Minister of Revenue, Works, Punishments, Personnel, and Rites. In the ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1744), he became Governor-General of Zhili, and was granted the title of Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion along with that of Minister of Personnel. In the 11th year of the Qianlong reign (1746), he was conferred the honorary title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and after his death, he was posthumously awarded the title of Grand Guardian and given the posthumous name Wenjing.

The Enrong Archway faces south and backs onto the village and river. It was built in the ninth year of the Qianlong reign (1744) as a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story stone archway. Apart from the four pillars, which are made of bluestone, the rest is carved from granite. It stands 10 meters tall and is 9.80 meters wide. The upper level features the inscription "Ziyun Li" on the south-facing side and "Enrong" on the north-facing side. In mid-May 1979, the archway was struck by lightning, causing the upper floors to collapse. Only the lower-level stone beams remain, standing 5 meters tall, with square stone pillars measuring 0.90 meters. The northern side of the archway has six sets of bas-reliefs: magpies on plum blossoms, two lions playing with a ball, two deer with ganoderma, monkeys picking peaches, two phoenixes facing the sun, and a hippopotamus playing in water. The southern side also has six sets: swans in flight, two lions playing with a ball, pine and crane symbolizing longevity, two deer galloping, phoenixes and peonies, and a qilin delivering a child. All are rendered in high relief, with some parts featuring openwork carving. The craftsmanship is exquisite, but due to weathering, the carvings show slight damage. Near the river south of the archway, there are two greenstone turtle-shaped tablet pedestals, although the tablets themselves are missing.

Xizhu Town: Xizhu Town is located in the southwest of Yixing City, a famous pottery capital in China. Situated in the economically developed Yangtze River Delta region and at the center of the Shanghai-Nanjing-Hangzhou triangle, the town enjoys well-developed land and water transportation networks. Covering a total area of 66.6 square kilometers, the town comprises 10 administrative villages, 289 villager groups, 9,204 households, and had a total population of 29,261 at the end of 2005. Xizhu Town boasts a beautiful environment, abundant resources, and fertile land, making it suitable for industry, agriculture, commerce, and living. The town currently hosts over 100 industrial enterprises, with flax textile, copper material, and aluminum processing as its pillar industries. The area experiences distinct seasons, with a temperate… More details about Xizhu Town++