Weizhen Pavilion

　　   Weizhen Pavilion was originally constructed in the sixth year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1572 AD). Over the centuries, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. It was reconstructed in 1997 as a three-story octagonal tower, covering an area of 9 mu, standing 57.88 meters tall, overlooking the Jiulong River and the ancient city of Zhangzhou. It forms a distant echo with the Weizhen Pavilion (pavilion) built on Zhishan Mountain.

　　   The main tower is adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, featuring unique styles of colored paintings and rosewood carvings that are vividly lifelike. Inside the tower is the “First Museum of Chinese Lantern Riddles,” housing the “National Treasure No. 1 Duan Inkstone” and over ten thousand pieces of lantern riddle materials from China and abroad.

　　   The current Weizhen Pavilion still follows a three-story structure and an octagonal Bagua design, but its scale far surpasses that of previous eras. The main tower stands nearly 52 meters tall—majestic and elegant yet carefree, with extraordinary presence and profound symbolism.

　　   In front of the main tower, on the left and right sides of the pavilion, are exquisitely delicate triangular and quadrangular pavilions. Flower stands are arranged in a charming layout, where rare flowers and exotic plants vie in full bloom, brimming with vitality. The protective corridors are adorned with exquisite relief carvings, vividly depicting famous flowers and scenic spots from across Zhangzhou, serving as a microcosm of the essence of the region’s landscapes.

　　   The mountain gate consists of two 7.35-meter-high, 1.2-meter-diameter and two 6.35-meter-high, 1.1-meter-diameter carved nine-dragon Huadian jade stone pillars. The lintel of the gate bears the three bold, powerful characters “威镇阁” (Weizhen Pavilion), a masterful calligraphic work by the renowned calligrapher Qi Gong. On each side of the gate stands a lion carved from a single piece of 28-ton Nine-Dragon Wall jade, each weighing heavily with exquisite craftsmanship and lifelike detail.

　　   In front of the mountain gate lies a small square, at the end of which is an old-style Weizhen Pavilion Commercial City that blends seamlessly with the style of the pavilion. To enhance the cultural prestige of Weizhen Pavilion, the Xiacheng District government relocated the Zhangzhou Lantern Riddle Art Museum, acclaimed both domestically and abroad as the “First Museum of Chinese Lantern Riddle History,” into the tower. Its rich collection of lantern riddles and diverse lantern riddle activities have greatly enriched the charm of Weizhen Pavilion.