Peony Pavilion Park

　　Mine Guesthouse), and was once the crown jewel of the “Ten Scenic Spots of the Prefecture Garden.” The park features towering ancient trees, murmuring streams, and elegant architecture, making it one of the famous classical gardens of ancient southern China.

　　The great Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu stayed in Dayu and used this site as inspiration to create his world-renowned masterpiece *The Peony Pavilion*, also known as *The Return of the Soul*. Since then, the Peony Pavilion has gained widespread fame. The original construction date of the pavilion is unknown, but it underwent multiple renovations after the Qing Dynasty. It was originally octagonal with double eaves, and the upper level featured lattice windows in the shape of the Chinese character “ya” (亚). The lower level had eight pillars on both the interior and exterior, with doors on all four sides—east, west, south, and north—and the main entrance bore a plaque inscribed with “Peony Pavilion.” The outer eight pillars were surrounded by decorative railings in an “x” pattern. Between the outer pillars were partitioned screens, the upper parts of which also had “ya”-style lattice windows, all painted yellow inside. Each of the four directional doors and pillars featured poetic couplets. The interior of the pavilion had painted beams and red pillars. The roof was covered with green glazed tiles and topped with a gourd-shaped finial. The pavilion stands 6.67 meters tall and covers an area of 20 square meters. Nearby, there are other structures such as the Tomb of Du Liniang, the Dressing Table, and the Green Shade Pavilion. The Peony Pavilion is exquisitely built, with well-arranged layouts that hold significant artistic value.

　　Peony Pavilion Phone: (0797) 8722003 Peony Pavilion Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM Peony Pavilion Park Ticket: 2 RMB per person Peony Pavilion Transportation: By car – After arriving in Dayu County Town, continue driving about 1 kilometer south along National Highway 323, then turn left at the south end of Meiguan Bridge to enter. You can then visit Peony Pavilion Park, the birthplace of the story behind the famous Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu’s renowned opera *The Peony Pavilion: The Return of the Soul*, who is hailed as the “Shakespeare of the East.”