City God Pavilion

City God Pavilion

The City God Pavilion is a cultural tourism attraction.

The City God Pavilion is located in the Wu Hill Scenic Area. This seven-story antique-style pavilion, including the underground level, stands 41.6 meters tall. Magnificent and resplendent, it blends architectural styles from the Yuan and Ming dynasties. With bold structural designs and delicate details, it offers sweeping views of Hangzhou’s rivers, mountains, lakes, and cityscape.

The City God Pavilion is a seven-story antique-style building with an overall architectural style reflecting that of the Southern Song and Yuan dynasties. It stands 41.6 meters tall and has a construction area of 3,789 square meters. The main roof of the pavilion is crowned with a gourd-shaped precious bottle; the four auxiliary roofs are adorned with phoenix designs, making the entire structure resemble a flock of soaring phoenixes or an ethereal mountain palace reaching toward the sky—an awe-inspiring sight. Its arched doorways are built with mushroom stones, and the base consists of solid stonework resembling block stones, symbolizing the long history embedded within the ancient walls of Hangzhou. The plaque inscribed with “City God Pavilion” on the second floor was written by Shen Peng, a renowned Chinese calligrapher. The couplet on either side—“Eight hundred miles of lakes and hills, one wonders from which year this painting comes; a myriad of household lights, all gathered in this tower”—is said to have been penned by Xu Wei of the Ming Dynasty. The plaque on the third floor, inscribed with “The Beauty of Lakes and Hills Is True,” was written by Gu Yuxiu, teacher to both the President of China and the Premier of the State Council. The plaque on the fourth floor, inscribed in seal script with “Flourishing Elegance,” was written by Liu Zidu, Chairman of the Shaanxi Calligraphers Association.

On the whole, the first and second floors of the City God Pavilion mainly exhibit the rich local history, culture, and folk customs of Hangzhou. The third and fifth floors house public teahouses along with cultural performances, while the fourth floor provides the best views. The sixth floor is a flying pavilion serving as a VIP reception room.

Ascend Wu Hill and climb the City God Pavilion. Look around, and you will see the vast sky, open land, beautiful lakes and hills, and a thriving city—a true earthly paradise beyond compare.