The Drunkard’s Pavilion

The Drunkard’s Pavilion

The Drunkard’s Pavilion is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Drunkard’s Pavilion is located at the foot of Mount Langya in the southwestern part of Chuzhou City, Anhui Province. Along with Beijing’s Tao Ran Ting, Changsha’s Ai Wan Ting, and Hangzhou’s Hubin Ting, it is known as one of “China’s Four Famous Pavilions.” It is one of Anhui Province’s famous historical sites. The timeless masterpiece “The Record of the Drunkard’s Pavilion” written by the great Song Dynasty prose writer Ouyang Xiu describes this very pavilion. The Drunkard’s Pavilion is small and unique, featuring the characteristics of pavilions in the Jiangnan region. Nestled close to steep cliffs, its upturned eaves project gracefully over the void. Despite having been damaged repeatedly over the centuries and rebuilt just as often, it has never been forgotten. After the liberation, the Drunkard’s Pavilion was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection site and has undergone multiple renovations.

The architecture around the Drunkard’s Pavilion is compact and uniquely designed, reflecting the charm of Jiangnan gardens. Though the total area is less than 1,000 square meters, there are nine distinct and non-repetitive scenic spots. The Drunkard’s Pavilion, Baosong Zhai, Fenggong Ancestral Hall, Ancient Plum Pavilion, Yingxiang Pavilion, Yizai Pavilion, Yi Pavilion, Ancient Plum Terrace, and Lan Yu Terrace vary in style and are collectively known as the “Nine Scenic Spots of the Drunkard’s Pavilion.” In front of the Drunkard’s Pavilion lies the “Rang Spring,” a small stream that murmurs year-round with crystal-clear water. Mount Langya not only boasts serene and elegant mountain scenery but also has a deep cultural heritage. Since the Tang and Song Dynasties, countless literary masters such as Wei Yingwu, Ouyang Xiu, Xin Qiji, Wang Anshi, Mei Yaochen, Song Lian, Wen Zhengming, Zeng Gong, and Xue ShiYu have composed poems and inscriptions here. Inside the Drunkard’s Pavilion, there is a stele inscribed with “The Record of the Drunkard’s Pavilion” handwritten by the great Song Dynasty literary figure Su Shi, known as “Ouyang’s writing and Su’s calligraphy.” At the highest point behind the pavilion is a raised platform called the “Mysterious Emperor Palace.” From atop it, one can gaze out at emerald mountains and hear birds singing in chorus, a truly uplifting sight.

“All around Chuzhou are mountains. The peaks in the southwest are particularly lush with forests and valleys.” And what kind of scenery is it that makes even wine lovers not drunk on wine, and what kind of elegant peaks and ravines leave them intoxicated by the spirit of the land? With such curiosity and longing, one ventures into this poetic and picturesque realm. Though the mountains are not very high, they are serene, beautiful, and offer scenic views in all seasons. The valleys are deep, the forests lush, flowers cover the fields, and birds sing incessantly. The Langya elm trees stand tall with overarching canopies, and the Drunkard’s elm is unique to the nation. Streams like the Langya Stream, Glass Marsh, and the Meandering Winding Stream flow gently; springs such as the Rang Spring, Zhuoying Spring, and Ziwei Spring are all sweet and refreshing. Caves like the Guiyun Cave, Xuehong Cave, Chongxi Cave, and Taoyuan Cave are all wondrous. There are also ancient structures from the Tang and Song Dynasties, such as the Langya Temple, the Drunkard’s Pavilion, and the Fengle Pavilion, along with hundreds of cliff inscriptions and stone tablets dating back to the Tang and Song Dynasties. Among these, the stone carving of the “Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin)” painted by the Tang Dynasty artist Wu Daozi and the stone tablets inscribed with “The Record of the Drunkard’s Pavilion” and “The Record of the Fengle Pavilion” by Song Dynasty’s Su Dongpo are considered priceless treasures.

Ancients referred to it as the “Eight Scenic Wonders of Eastern Anhui,” encompassing famous mountains, temples, pavilions, springs, literature, stone tablets, caves, and forests. The lush and profound Mount Langya has long been honored with the reputation of “No Mountain Compares After Penglai.” … After walking six or seven li into the mountains, you’ll see small bridges over flowing streams, with the source of the stream right before your eyes—that is the Niang Spring. The asphalt road suddenly ends, and after crossing the bridge, you’ll find an old-fashioned bluestone path. The Drunkard’s Pavilion, “situated above the spring,” is nestled within a courtyard, but its upturned eaves are clearly visible. “The master has been gone for over a hundred years, but the land of drunkenness remains; after walking six or seven li into the mountains, the pavilion stands not alone.” A couplet hanging on the pavilion’s pillars reveals the true essence of this garden. The compact and uniquely arranged courtyard houses the “Nine Scenic Spots of the Drunkard’s Pavilion” for visitors to explore. In front of the pavilion, the winding stream flows ceaselessly; behind it lies the “Hall of the Two Sages,” commemorating the two Song Dynasty prefects Ouyang Xiu and Wang Yucheng. Nearby, the “Baosong New Zhai” enshrines the stone carving of “The Record of the Drunkard’s Pavilion” with “Ouyang’s writing and Su’s calligraphy.” The locally educated and culture-loving residents protect this “Song treasure” by encasing it in a glass cover, building a pavilion over it to shield it from wind and rain, and tending to it with great care.

Exiting the pavilion to the west, you’ll find the “Ou Mei” (Plum Tree of Ou), personally planted by Ouyang the Master. This thousand-year-old tree stands over ten meters tall, with countless plum blossoms competing to bloom on its branches, while fallen petals blanket the ground like a protective layer. “Diligent people usher in early spring.” Mr. Jia Renqi, a native of Chuzhou who climbs the mountain every Spring Festival, says that this year’s plum blossoms are especially abundant. The old tree bears new blooms—can the ancient city not do the same? Fengyang County, under the jurisdiction of Chuzhou, was once a desolate and impoverished land where “nine out of ten years brought famine,” yet it is also the birthplace of China’s rural reforms. Over the past twenty years, the countryside has transformed dramatically. Many local households have built small buildings, equipped their homes with modern appliances, and engaged in growing cash crops or working away from home in business ventures, opening their minds and bringing in wealth. The city itself has also changed rapidly—not to mention the skyscrapers and wide roads, but convenient supermarkets, teahouses, and coffee shops, which were once novel, have now become indispensable parts of life for the townspeople. … Before you know it, you discover the ancient pavilion showing a renewed face. The pavilion remains, though people have changed, yet people remain just as enchanted by it as ever.