Zhangqi Wenchang Pavilion

Zhangqi Wenchang Pavilion

At the intersection where the crystal-clear Kuai-Chuan River and Chenjia River form a cross in Chenjia Village, Zhangqi Town, stands a three-story, pointed-roof pavilion by the water’s edge in the southwest corner of this cross-shaped river junction. With its upturned eaves that seem ready to take flight and elegant design, this is the widely renowned Zhangqi Wenchang Pavilion.

Wenchang, also known as the Wenchang Star, is modeled after Cangjie, the creator of Chinese characters. Later, he was revered as the deity governing academic success and official rank, and was widely worshipped by scholars seeking fame and achievement in ancient times. The Wenchang Pavilion was originally named Shuige Ting (Water Pavilion) and was built by Chen Bangrui, a local from the late Qing Dynasty. Speaking of Chen Bangrui, no one in Zhangqi is unfamiliar with him. He was from Chenjia Village near Zhangqi Bridge, hailing from a family of scholars and known for his diligence and dedication to learning from a young age. He became a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the imperial county-level examination) at the age of 18, passed the provincial-level examination (Juren) the following year, and three years later, in 1880 during the Guangxu reign (the Gengchen Year), he achieved the highest academic degree—Jinshi (presented scholar). He ranked second in the palace examination and was appointed as an official in the Grand Secretariat. Throughout his life, Chen experienced the Westernization Movement (“New Policies”), the First Sino-Japanese War, the Hundred Days' Reform, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Xinhai Revolution. Though holding high office, he remained an uncorrupted and upright official, which earned him deep respect among his fellow villagers. Legend has it that when Chen was young, he wanted to create a gathering place for scholars preparing for the imperial exams. Together with seven other Xiucai from the area, he raised funds to establish the Chongmeng Society, also known as the Wenchang Society. They built the pavilion and erected a statue of the Wenchang deity—this is how the Wenchang Pavilion came to be.

The original pavilion was demolished in 1980. In 2002, a replica of the Wenchang Pavilion and a 100-meter-long corridor were rebuilt nearby in its original style. The classical-style pavilion features a four-cornered hip-and-gable roof, while the corridor is paved with aged bluestone slabs. The roof tiles and ornaments along the corridor are all original antique pieces. The north gate of the park is an ancient-style gatehouse, meticulously relocated brick by brick and tile by tile. Thus, although the entire park is newly constructed, it retains an ancient simplicity and elegance that is captivating. The 100-meter-long corridor follows the curves of the Kuai-Chuan River, meandering naturally with the water’s flow, creating a delightful landscape. On early summer evenings, strolling along the corridor, with a gentle breeze and the faint fragrance of lotus flowers in the air, the remaining heat vanishes instantly, leaving no trace of sultry summer discomfort—a scene that makes visitors linger with no desire to leave.

1129883503.gif To the west of the Wenchang Pavilion lies the former site of Xianzhi Primary School, now repurposed as the Chenjia Village Cultural Center. Two rows of long, single-story buildings align seamlessly with the corridor along the southern bank of the Kuai-Chuan River to form a unified whole. The exquisite carvings on the beams and columns inside these buildings rival those found in the Yu Family’s Tianshutang. Judging by the style of the ornamentation, the buildings are likely older than the nearby Chenjia Cheziwu (Cart House). The courtyard is filled with blooming flowers, lush bamboo groves, and leaning old trees, exuding vitality—it is indeed a perfect spot for leisure and recreation. Back then, the owner of the Chenjia Cart House, witnessing the closed-mindedness and low educational level among the villagers, built a primary school in the village, hired teachers, and encouraged children from farming families to attend. When villagers faced financial hardships, he generously provided grain from his own stores to help. Time has passed, and things have changed, but the charitable deeds of the Chen family are still fondly recounted by the locals. When visitors walk across the “Daze Bridge” to the north of the school and admire the scenic views along both sides of the Kuai-Chuan River, they may come to better understand the meaning behind the bridge’s name.

Zhangqi Town: An Emerging Industrial Stronghold — Located southeast of Cixi City on the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay, Zhangqi Town is 40 kilometers east of Ningbo and 148 kilometers west of Hangzhou. The under-construction Hangzhou Bay Cross-sea Bridge connects with the town’s National Highway 329 interchange, and Provincial Highway Ye-Dong Road links up with the Yong–Hang–Hu Expressway network. The town covers an area of 60.7 square kilometers, with a permanent population of 46,000 and nearly 40,000 migrant residents. It governs 14 administrative villages and one neighborhood committee. In 2004, the town’s GDP reached 1.368 billion yuan, with total fiscal revenue of 143 million yuan. Zhangqi Town is named after Zhangqi Bridge... More details about Zhangqi Town++