Hongmian Shuixie (Red Cotton Water Pavilion)

Hongmian Shuixie

Hongmian Shuixie was built in the mid-Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. The Hongmian Chunzui Pavilion stands on a small island in front of Mingshui Bay. In ancient times, there was a Lakeside Pavilion beside two ancient and elegant red cotton trees, hence the name “Hongmian Shuixie.” Because the Lakeside Pavilion closely resembles a painted pleasure boat on the lake, it is also called the Boat Pavilion. Surrounded by red cotton trees, the island is a beautiful place densely populated with kapok trees. In spring, the red cotton blossoms blaze brilliantly, creating a striking contrast with the green water. Against the backdrop of lush green trees, the antique-style buildings with red walls and green tiles are nestled within the scenery.

It is often said that “peach blossoms herald the arrival of spring,” but in West Lake, Huizhou, it is the myriad red cotton trees that announce the coming of spring. In late spring, the red cotton trees flourish exuberantly, with countless blossoms blazing like torches reaching the sky. The petals drift onto the lake surface, as if chasing the flow of red, earning the reputation of “Red Cotton Spring Intoxication.”

In the early days of the War of Resistance against Japan, the pavilion was destroyed and its plaque lost. It was rebuilt in 1941 but soon damaged by Japanese aircraft bombings. In 1944, Ye Minyu, commander of the Huidan Garrison District, continued the restoration, though it no longer retained its original appearance. The current two-story modern building of Hongmian Shuixie houses the “Ziyuan Teahouse,” which was constructed in 1974.