Centenarian Pavilion

Centenarian Pavilion

The Centenarian Pavilion is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Centenarian Pavilion is located in Shangzhuang Village, Nanyue Town. Built during the Republican era, it faces south and covers an area of approximately 18 square meters. It was erected in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Qiu Shouguang, who both lived to be 100 years old.

The Centenarian Pavilion is a brick-and-wood structure in a hexagonal shape, with its walls made of unrendered blue bricks using the three-stretcher-one-header bond technique. The entrance is arched, flanked by Roman columns. Above the door is inlaid a rectangular plaque inscribed with the three characters “百岁亭” (Centenarian Pavilion). There are oval ventilation windows on both the eastern and western sides of the pavilion. The eaves are built with layers of blue bricks, and above them are six angles, each with a pier column. Between the two columns is a stone battlement-style lattice window. The roof is a hexagonal pyramidal structure, giving the pavilion a solemn and dignified appearance. At the top sits a gourd-shaped finial. Inside, the pavilion has a wooden hexagonal beam frame. On either side of the entrance pillars were plastered dragon-head-shaped drainage outlets, though these no longer exist. Originally, there was a stone stele inside recording the centenarian lives of Mr. and Mrs. Qiu, but it has been destroyed. On both sides of the pavilion’s entrance are couplets carved with the text: “A timeless pavilion where a beloved presence lingers, a hundred-year-old stone tablet extends blessings boundless.”

The Centenarian Pavilion is generally well-preserved and features a very unique architectural style with an exquisite design, embodying the typical architectural characteristics of the Republican era. This pavilion provides a pleasant shelter for passersby to take refuge from wind and rain and rest along their journey.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province