Peony Pavilion Park

Peony Pavilion Park

The world-renowned Peony Pavilion was originally located within the Nanan Prefecture Government Office (now the guesthouse of the Xihua Mountain Tungsten Mine in the county town). It was once considered the finest of the “Ten Scenic Spots of the Prefecture Garden.” The park features ancient trees towering above, murmuring streams, and elegant architecture, making it one of the famous classical gardens of southern China during ancient times.

The great Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu stayed in Dayu and used this place as inspiration to create his world-shaking masterpiece *The Peony Pavilion*, also known as *The Return of the Soul*. Since then, the Peony Pavilion has become widely celebrated. The original construction date of the Peony Pavilion is unclear, but it underwent multiple renovations after the Qing Dynasty. Originally octagonal with double eaves, the upper level featured muntin windows in the shape of an 亞 (Ya) character. The lower level had eight inner and outer pillars, with gates on all four sides—east, west, south, and north—and the main gate bore a plaque inscribed with “Peony Pavilion.” The outer eight pillars were surrounded by railings adorned with X-shaped patterns. Between the outer pillars were partition screens, the upper parts of which also featured Ya-character lattice windows, all painted yellow inside. Each of the four directional inner and outer gate pillars was inscribed with poetic couplets. The interior of the pavilion had painted beams and red pillars. The roof was covered with green glazed tiles and topped with a gourd-shaped finial. The pavilion stands 6.67 meters tall and covers an area of 20 square meters. Nearby, there are structures such as the Tomb of Lady Li, Dressing Table, and Green Shade Pavilion. The Peony Pavilion is exquisitely built, with well-arranged layouts that hold high artistic value.

Peony Pavilion Phone: (0797) 8722003 Peony Pavilion Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Peony Pavilion Park Ticket: 2 RMB per person Peony Pavilion Transportation: By car: After arriving in Dayu County Town, continue driving about 1 kilometer south along National Highway 323, then turn left at the south end of Meiguan Bridge to enter. You can then visit Peony Pavilion Park, the birthplace of the story behind the famous Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu’s renowned opera *The Peony Pavilion: The Return of the Soul*, often referred to as the “Oriental Shakespeare.”

Nanan Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Dayu County and the seat of the county government. It is the birthplace of the famous Nanan-style preserved duck. Established in the Sui Dynasty, the area connects to Lingnan and was historically known for its peaceful people and abundant goods, hence the name Nanan. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, it served as the seat of Nanan Military Command and Nanan Circuit. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was the seat of Nanan Prefecture. In 1953, Nanan Town was officially established. Located in the central part of the county, it covers an area of 9.8 square kilometers and has a population of 46,000. National Highway 323 passes through the town, and the Chongyu Highway starts here. The town administers six neighborhood committees: Yuxi, Yudong, Jiangui, Dongshan, Shiqiaoxia, and Beimenhe, as well as the Xinmin Village Committee. Local township enterprises are engaged in commerce, transportation, construction, clothing, bamboo and wood processing, and food services. The main agricultural products are vegetables. The area includes the Ma... More details about Nanan Town ++