Yilu

Pulu Pavilion

Pulu Pavilion is a Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage site.

Pulu Pavilion is located at No. 221 Ganquan Road, Guangling District, Yangzhou. It was built in the early years of the Republic of China by Lu Dianhu, chairman of the Zhen-Yang Motor Company, and designed by the famed Yangzhou garden designer Yu Jizhi. It is one of the “Four Pavilions” of Yangzhou from the early Republican period. Lu Dianhu (1876–1936), courtesy name Shaoliu, was a native of Baoying County, Yangzhou. He graduated in 1910 from the Jiangnan Higher Institution during the final year of the Qing Dynasty's Xuantong reign and was awarded the title of Jiebu scholar. He successively served as head of the Education Department under the Jiangsu Governor’s Office and as principal of Haizhou Middle School. After the 1911 Revolution, he held positions such as head of the Education Department in Anhui and Gansu provinces. Later, he settled in Yangzhou. In 1918, he advocated for the construction of a road from Yangzhou to Qingjiang. With official approval, construction first began on the Guazhou to Yangzhou section, and efforts commenced to establish the Guaqing Long-Distance Motor Company and the Northern Jiangsu Road Administration Bureau. In 1924, the road from Yangzhou to Liuxu was completed, and in 1925, the entire Yangqing Road (an earthen road) was opened to traffic. Docks and trestle bridges were also constructed at Liuxu and Zhenjiang, along with pontoon docks for passenger convenience. Cao Zhi wrote in his "Fu" (Rhapsody): “Lament the lonely gourd, sing of Altair’s unwavering diligence.” The owner named the “pavilion” after the “gourd” (匏), not only as a metaphorical form of self-discipline and encouragement but also because the garden is longer from north to south and wider from east to west, resembling the shape of a ladle—thus earning the name Pulu Pavilion. After Lu Dianhu’s passing, Han Guojun composed his “Biography” (行状).

Covering an area of 1,600 square meters with a built-up area of 750 square meters, Pulu Pavilion is long from north to south and wide from east to west, resembling a gourd, hence its name. The garden is divided into eastern and western sections: the eastern part is the “Pulu” garden, and the western part is the “Keqi” garden, while the northern part of the garden consists of a five-courtyard residential complex. The main gate faces east, featuring a masonry gate tower with precisely fitted bricks. The eastern “Pulu” section has a stone plaque with seal script carved by Chen Yanzhi (Han Guang) above the gate. The courtyard has a long, narrow layout resembling a carpenter’s square, with floral arrangements, trees, and rockeries to the south, and a pond dug in the southeast corner with a half pavilion by the water. To the north of the pond is a three-bay veranda-connected pavilion. The western “Keqi” section is more open, with a south-facing flower hall in the middle dividing the north and south courtyards. The flower hall is three bays wide and five rafters deep. The southern courtyard of the hall features lush trees and a group of Lake Taihu rockeries. In the southwest corner of the courtyard stands a waterside pavilion atop the pool, connected by a corridor extending northward. At the end of the corridor is a corner gate inscribed with the characters “留余” (Leave Surplus). Passing through this gate leads to a small alley, which connects to a small courtyard to the north of the hall. The small courtyard has a yellow-stone flower stand with planted flora. The residence lies north of the garden and consists of five courtyards. From south to north: the first is the front hall, three bays wide, with a single side room to the west; the second is the main hall, three bays wide and seven rafters deep, with corridors on both sides and a side room to the west; the two courtyards behind the main hall are both “three bright, five hidden” style, each seven rafters deep. The halls feature glass panel doors, square brick flooring, and bedrooms, side rooms, and wing rooms have intact latticed doors, windows, wooden floors, ceilings, and partition boards. The courtyards between each section are paved with bluestone slabs. The front hall and southern flower hall have carved panels and windows. The fifth courtyard houses the kitchen and includes an ancient well. Although compact, Pulu Pavilion is exquisitely laid out and serves as an outstanding example of design utilizing irregularly shaped spaces.

On June 5, 2006, Pulu Pavilion was designated as part of the sixth batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage sites.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites