Zhenjiang Pavilion

Zhenjiang Pavilion

Zhenjiang Pavilion is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Sanjiang area of Yichang used to suffer from severe flooding, which greatly impacted local residents' lives. In 1700 (the 38th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign during the Qing Dynasty), the local government built Yangsi Temple here in an effort to subdue the flood disasters. By the 1990s, the temple had fallen into disrepair after a fire. The Yichang Municipal Government rebuilt the pavilion and incorporated the history of the Gezhouba Dam project into the site, officially naming it Zhenjiang Pavilion. It was hailed as the “Fourth Greatest Tower Under Heaven.” Later, it was destroyed during wartime. The current Zhenjiang Pavilion was reconstructed by the Yichang Municipal Government on the original site in the 1980s, located not far downstream from the Gezhouba Dam. The three characters for "Zhenjiang Pavilion" were selected from calligraphy works by renowned Chinese masters during the reconstruction. Interestingly, the character 鎮 (Zhen, meaning “to calm”) is missing one horizontal stroke — a quirk that has become a charming anecdote about the pavilion today. What seems like an improbable and basic mistake actually carries an underlying significance: the two horizontal strokes in “Zhen” subtly allude to the Gezhouba and Three Gorges Dams restraining the Yangtze River — truly a case of the name matching the reality.

To restore Yichang’s historical and cultural landscape, the Yichang Municipal Government chose to rebuild Zhenjiang Pavilion at its current location in January 1987. On December 20, 2006, the renovated Zhenjiang Pavilion in Yichang, Hubei Province, was unveiled with a fresh new look. Today, the pavilion covers a total area of 536 square meters, with a built-up area of 1,336 square meters and a height of 26.29 meters across four stories. Each level features traditional upturned eaves and intricately carved beams and painted rafters. The base of the pavilion is made of bluestone carved with dragon motifs and a Sumeru pedestal, and is surrounded by white marble railings. The structure is supported by 34 dragon-pillar columns throughout. From the pavilion’s viewing platform, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Yichang’s modern cityscape, the majestic Gezhouba Dam, the rolling waves of the Yangtze River, and the scenic beauty of Xiling Mountain.