Haijiao Pavilion

Haijiao Pavilion

Haijiao Pavilion is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Haijiao Pavilion is located in the southwest of Lianzhou Town, Hepu County, Guangxi. Originally built during the Jingde era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1004–1007 AD), it has a history of nearly a thousand years. During the Han Dynasty, Meng Chang served as the prefect of Hepu, known for his clean and honest governance. To commemorate him, this pavilion was specially constructed. The pavilion is named "Haijiao" because it was originally situated by the sea, "at the corner of the South China Sea." The original site of Haijiao Pavilion was located about half a li to the southwest of the town. After being reconstructed, renovated, and relocated across several dynasties including the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, it now stands at its current location.

Haijiao Pavilion faces southwest and is oriented from the northeast. It features a brick-and-wood structure with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, and has a square floor plan. The front façade spans three bays, with a surrounding corridor, and has a total width of 10.49 meters. The depth also spans three bays, with a total depth of 10.6 meters. The pavilion is divided into two sections:

The first section is the gatehouse. In the center of the gatehouse is a large round arch door, flanked by two side doors. Above the main entrance is embedded the inscription “Haitian Shengjing” (meaning “A Fine Scene of Sea and Sky”). The side doors are respectively carved with the words “Shuye” (meaning “Washing the Moon”) and “Chueyun” (meaning “Clearing the Clouds”). On both sides of the main gate, there used to be stone-carved couplets: “Unless you come to this pavilion, how would you know the majestic mountain cliffs stretch across thousands of miles? Only by gazing over the sea can you see the Dragon Gate atop the ridge, amid layers of cloud and water.” In the center of the gatehouse, on a stone tablet approximately ninety centimeters long and fifty centimeters wide, is carved the character “E” (goose), written in one continuous stroke by Tao Ye of the Qing Dynasty.

The second section is the main structure of the pavilion. With crimson walls and glazed blue tiles, it features carved beams and painted rafters. The pavilion is square-shaped, with front and rear entrances connected to each other, two large windows on each side, and corridors all around. The eave panels are carved with various animal, plant, and historical figure motifs. On the two ancient pillars at the front of the pavilion are inscribed couplets from the Qing Dynasty's Daoguang era, written by Chen Siquan: “Though Haijiao lies remote, the mountains glow and rivers shine bright; the pavilion’s name shall endure, like Han’s Meng and Song’s Su.” At the back of the pavilion stands a large stele inscribed with “Ancient Haijiao Pavilion.” Above the rear inner door of the pavilion hangs a plaque inscribed with “Wanli Zhan Tian” (meaning “Gazing at the Sky Across Ten Thousand Miles”). This was written by Su Dongpo in 1100 AD when he was pardoned and traveled from Dan County to Lianzhou. He composed and wrote these words at Haijiao Pavilion. However, after many cycles of rise and decline, the original plaque has long been lost. The one currently hanging in the pavilion is a reproduction using Su Dongpo’s calligraphy style. Su Dongpo’s four characters “Wanli Zhan Tian” have endowed both the pavilion and Hepu with deep cultural significance, making this pavilion a place especially revered by the people of Hepu for Su Dongpo.

Thirty meters northeast of the pavilion once stood Dizhu Pavilion, about ten meters to the east was Haimen Academy, thirty meters southeast was Kuixing Tower, to the west was Tianfei Temple, to the south was Jinbo Tide, and across the lake was Jinbo Bridge, which connects Haijiao Pavilion with Kuixing Tower.

Lianzhou Town: Situated on the shores of the Beibu Gulf, Lianzhou Town is the seat of Hepu County People’s Government and serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of Hepu. The town covers an area of 229 square kilometers, administers 29 village (residential) committees, and includes 4,047.3 hectares of arable land. By the end of 2001, the town had a population of 150,000, making it the largest town in Hepu County. National Highways 325 and 209, the North-South Second-Class Highway, and expressways pass through the area. It is only 16 kilometers from Beihai International Airport, 30 kilometers from Beihai Port, and the Qinzhou-Beibu Railway has a station in the southern suburbs of Lianzhou. With convenient sea, land, and air transportation, the town enjoys a notably advantageous location.

Environment and Resources of Lianzhou... Detailed information about Lianzhou Town++