Hengshan Reservoir Scenic Area

Yixing Wenchang Pavilion

Yixing Wenchang Pavilion is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

The original Yixing Wenchang Pavilion was located on East Tongzhen’guan Road in Yicheng Subdistrict, Yixing City, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province (now the site of the Cultural Square). It was first built in the early Ming Dynasty as part of the Taoist temple Tongzhen’guan, and also served as an examination hall for the imperial civil service exams and a gathering place for literati. It was rebuilt in the 12th year of the Wanli era (1584) and renovated during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty. The original structure included a main hall, east and west corridors, an Inkstone Pond, and a garden. The main hall in the east courtyard had three bays, with one side room on each side, a depth of thirteen rafters, and a flush-gable roof. In front of the hall was a moon terrace built from bluestone. The courtyard featured a rectangular Inkstone Pond with a small single-arch stone bridge and several osmanthus and cypress trees. The east and west corridors originally each had nine bays but were modified in the early 1980s. The garden in the west courtyard had an artificially built earthen hill and a small pavilion. In 1998, due to urban redevelopment, the main hall was relocated to the western part of the city at Qianbao Lake, where it was restored along with the east and west corridors. The reconstructed area now showcases historical features such as "Ancient Examination Halls," "Scholarly Gathering Spots," traditional architecture, and cultural exhibitions.

Yicheng Subdistrict: The Yicheng Subdistrict Office is the seat of the Yixing municipal government and serves as the center of the city’s politics, economy, and culture, as well as the window for Yixing’s opening-up. Covering an area of 40 square kilometers with a population of 240,000, it governs 30 community committees and 6 administrative villages. Divided by the Wu-Shen Canal, the area within the canal on the side close to the city is under the jurisdiction of Yicheng Subdistrict, while the area outside the canal falls under the Yixing Economic Development Zone. Community committees, villages (groups), and enterprises originally belonging to Yicheng Subdistrict in this zone are managed by the Yixing Economic Development Zone. Non-established villages (groups) may establish new village committees or be merged into neighboring ones... More details about Yicheng Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units