Airi Pavilion

Airi Pavilion

Airi Pavilion is a cultural heritage site protected at the Zhejiang provincial level.

Located at No. 16 Nanda Road, Zhengming Village, Jinping Subdistrict, Fenghua District, “Airi Pavilion” was the former residence of Yu Jishi (1904–1990), a high-ranking Nationalist official during the Republic of China era. In 1924, Yu entered the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy, participated in Chiang Kai-shek’s Second Eastern Expedition, took part in the two Battles of Shanghai during the Second Sino-Japanese War, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. In the 1940s, he served as Chiang Kai-shek’s chief bodyguard and was an influential figure in Fenghua at the time. It is said that this residence was built as a reward for Yu’s contributions during the Northern Expedition, when he was granted 3,000 silver dollars for capturing cities, and completed in 1930.

The building faces east and is named “Airi Pavilion,” which means “beloved sun of the east.” The main structure is a five-bay, two-corridor house, 23.7 meters wide and 12.2 meters deep. To the left of the main building is an auxiliary wing. The gate tower faces east and is situated at the northern end of the eastern wall. Its top is semicircular, adorned with molded lotus patterns in the center, beneath which is a plum rain stone plaque inscribed with the three Chinese characters “爱日庐” (Airi Pavilion) in regular script.

The construction of “Airi Pavilion” features exquisite craftsmanship and is a typical example of Republican-era architecture blending Chinese and Western styles. It also has rich cultural significance and remains well-preserved. In October 2003, it was listed as one of the first batch of municipal-level cultural heritage sites in Fenghua. In 2010, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural heritage site in Fenghua, and in January 2017, it was announced as a provincial-level cultural heritage site by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province.

Source: Yuyao Cultural Heritage Protection Office

Zhengming Village: Zhengming Village... More details about Zhengming Village++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites