Wenxi Pavilion

Wenxi Pavilion

Wenxi Pavilion is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

Wenxi Pavilion dates back to the Qing Dynasty. It is located in Wenxi Village, Aquan Town, Guiyang County, Hunan Province. This is a roadside pavilion in southern Hunan with notable architectural artistry.

The pavilion was first built in the 20th year of the Daoguang reign (1840), funded by local villagers, and underwent several renovations in the 34th year of the Guangxu reign (1908) as well as in the 1980s and 1990s.

The pavilion features a wood-and-stone structure, standing 13.4 meters tall in total, and is a four-story, double-eave pavilion-style building. The first floor is rectangular, supported by eight square stone pillars, with three bays, measuring 14.9 meters from east to west and 7 meters from north to south. Floors two through four are octagonal, topped with hip-and-gable roofs, featuring upturned eaves, covered with small green tiles, and glazed tiles on the ridges. Four central pillars support a grid-like wooden beam, with a circular Leigong (Thunder God) pillar at the center as the main support reaching to the top floor. The crossbeams are carved with vine patterns, while the Leigong pillar is adorned with three tiers of lotus carvings. Each level connects eight tension beams to eight junior pillars, forming the octagonal shape of floors two through four. At the top sits a 1.3-meter-high glazed treasure bottle with a pyramidal roof.

Wenxi Pavilion boasts a novel structure, elegant design, and a particularly unique style that is rare among ordinary buildings. It holds significant value for the study of roadside pavilion architecture in southern Hunan. The pavilion stands at the village entrance, flanked by Divine Dragon Mountain and White Tiger Mountain, with ancient trees towering in front and behind the village, and dense forests covering the mountains and valleys, creating a very serene environment.

On May 19, 2002, it was designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Hunan Province, with the designation number 48-7.

Source: Overview of Cultural Relics in Hunan

Aquan Town: Name Origin – The People's Government was originally located in Aquan Market, hence the name.

Geographic Location – Located between 112°23′26″ to 112°45′46″ east longitude and 25°27′15″ to 26°13′30″ north latitude. It lies to the north of the county seat, bordering Renyi Town to the east, the Chongyang River to the south, Heping Town to the west, and Liufeng Town to the north. The People's Government is stationed in Heyetang, 33 kilometers from the county seat, with area code 0735 and postal code 424414.

Administrative History – In 1957, it was known as Aquan Township of Guiyang County, one of the six... Detailed information on Aquan Town++