Heavenly Wind Over Wu Hill

Heavenly Wind Over Wu Hill

Heavenly Wind Over Wu Hill

Heavenly Wind Over Wu Hill is one of the New Ten Scenes of West Lake in Hangzhou. Located southeast of the lake, it consists of a series of small hills including Baoyue, Emei, Qianshan, Ziyang, Qibao, and Yunju. The hill range extends into the urban area, with none of the peaks exceeding 100 meters in height.

In the past, fishermen used to dry their nets here after fishing in the sea, hence the name “Net-Drying Hill”; during the Spring and Autumn Period, it was known as Wu Hill. The hill once had a temple dedicated to Wu Zixu, hence also being called Xushan or Wushan. In the Tang Dynasty, it was commonly referred to as Qingshan. It was also known colloquially as Chenghuangshan (City God Hill) due to the presence of a City God Temple. At the base of the pavilion “Jianghu Hui Guan Ting” (“Viewing Lake and River Pavilion”) atop the hill stands a couplet inscribed with the words of Ming Dynasty scholar Xu Wenchang: “Eight hundred li of lakes and hills—who knows from which year this picture came? A myriad of households’ lights and smoke—all gather at these towers,” capturing the essence of the “Heavenly Wind Over Wu Hill” scene.

The highest peak is on Yunju Hill, while the most unique feature is the “Twelve Peaks of Wu Mountain” (also known as “Twelve Zodiac Stones”) on Ziyang Hill. This area is a cultural melting pot of the Wuyue and Southern Song Dynasties. Anciently, there were the “Ten Scenes of Wu Hill,” along with numerous cliff inscriptions, including the handwriting of Song Dynasty artist Mi Fu that reads “First Mountain.” Nowadays, structures such as Jimu Pavilion and Mingxiang Tower have been built on Wu Hill. The hill is covered with ginkgo, sweet gum, golden larch, and camphor trees, mingling with ancient “Song Dynasty camphor trees,” creating a blend of old and new with a completely renewed look. As Su Dongpo once wrote: “Wu Hill has long worn many forms, turning this way and that to show you its face.” The scenic area boasts many ancient trees and clear springs, oddly shaped rocks and strange stones, remnants of temples and altars, rich folk customs, and traces of famous historical figures.

Among them, the Chenghuang Pavilion has now been restored. With its Dougong brackets and upturned eaves, it stands like a fairy mountain pavilion atop Wu Hill, becoming a major new landmark of Hangzhou. It can rival the Yellow Crane Tower, Yueyang Tower, and Tengwang Pavilion, earning its place as the fourth great tower of Jiangnan.

The Chenghuang Pavilion is a seven-story antique-style building, 41.6 meters tall with a floor area of 3,789 square meters. Its overall design reflects architectural styles from the Southern Song and Yuan Dynasties. Through its multiple upturned corners on each level, it conveys a soaring, ethereal momentum, while the phoenix-wing-like design of the rooftop structure evokes imagery of a phoenix spreading its wings, inspiring the association of “dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing toward Qiantang.”

The construction of the Chenghuang Pavilion serves the functional purpose of high-altitude sightseeing. On a macro level, it balances the landscape of West Lake, harmonizing it with the surrounding hills, lake, and city. The pavilion not only manages the relationship between architecture and environment but also incorporates modern lifestyle needs by adding service facilities. The first and second floors focus on showcasing rich local historical culture and folk traditions. Floors three through six primarily serve as viewing platforms, leisure spaces, and VIP reception areas.