Zhu Men Pavilion

Zhu Men Pavilion

Zhu Men Pavilion is located about half a kilometer south of the city, on the east side of the intersection of Xuesheng Road and Xindeng Road. The pavilion was built in 1923 (the 12th year of the Republic of China). After the establishment of Heyuan County in the first year of the Yongming era of the Southern Qi Dynasty (483 AD), the Upper City was the ancient seat of Heyuan County. The site where Zhu Men Pavilion now stands was the grand front gate of that ancient city, known as the “Red Zhu Gate.” According to local elders, whenever imperial officials or provincial and prefectural dignitaries traveled to the county by land, the local magistrate of Heyuan County would line up to welcome them at Zhu Men Pavilion. A banquet would then be held to refresh them, they would change clothes and enter the city via the South Gate, proceeding north along Beizhi Street to the county government office to conduct official business. When they returned, they would also be seen off at Zhu Men Pavilion. Therefore, Zhu Men Pavilion originally served as an official welcoming pavilion.

In the late Qing Dynasty, Mr. Li Shaohuai, a native of the Upper City who had previously served as Prefect of Wuzhou, retired to his hometown and was very dedicated to local affairs. To ensure that future generations would not forget this historic site over time, he built Zhu Men Pavilion. The location of the pavilion was a necessary route for merchants traveling to the market, part of the north-south salt transport route to Jiangxi, and connected eastward via Hewan Bridge and the new East Gate, passing between the Gospel Church and Leyu Primary School before exiting eastward at Macao Ferry. It also led north to Dongpu, Nanhu, Qiaotou, Lighthouse, and onward to areas such as Lianping and Jiangxi, providing travelers with a convenient place to take shelter from the rain, rest, and enjoy tea. Zhu Men Pavilion was truly a haven for travelers. The original pavilion had a simple yet sturdy structure, supported by only four stone pillars, with a screen wall behind it. Behind the screen wall was the kitchen. The entire pavilion covered an area of about eighty square meters. The stone pillars inside the pavilion were inscribed with four couplets personally handwritten and carved by Mr. Li Shaohuai: The couplet on the screen wall read: “The pavilion is called Zhu Gate; in keeping with its name, do not forget the old site; as honored guests take their seats, savoring a few cups, you won’t even notice the breeze.” Another couplet said: “Two cups of tea are better than gazing at plums to quench thirst; winds from all directions make even the heat feel cool.” A central pillar bore the couplet: “Sit a while longer, and let’s discuss Lu Yu’s Tea Classic; drink a few more cups, as sweet as nectar, to dispel all thirst.” The couplet on the front pillars read: “Seats arranged east and west, a few cups of tea can quench your thirst; roads leading north and south, the pavilion open on three sides offers shade.”

Over time, Zhu Men Pavilion was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times. During the ten-year turmoil, it was completely demolished, leaving no trace. In 1985, it was reconstructed on the original site through funding jointly raised by the county, city, and town government. With unique materials and a novel structure, Zhu Men Pavilion now stands anew at its historic location.

Shangcheng Subdistrict: Shangcheng Subdistrict Office was established in March 1997 when Yuan Cheng Town was divided to form subdistrict offices. Located in the old urban area, it borders Dongjiang River to the east, Yuan Nan Town to the south, Xinjiang Subdistrict Office to the west, and Xinfengjiang River to the north. The subdistrict office is situated at No. 74 Huancheng East Road and currently serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of Yuancheng District. It covers a total area of 3.5 square kilometers, with a registered population of 39,292 and 7,590 households. It governs six community neighborhood committees: Shangcheng, Xiacheng, Xiajiao, Gongyuan, Xinxing, and Nanhu. The office includes departments such as the Party-Government Office, Subdistrict Affairs Office, Economic Development Office, Family Planning Office, and Social Affairs Office... For more details about Shangcheng Subdistrict ++