Guiyang Wenchang Pavilion

　　    Location: Located on Yuecheng (Moon City) at the East Gate of Guiyang City (No. 29, Wenchang Street, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province)

　　    Tourist Routes: Take bus routes 4, 5, 12, 21, 54, 64, 22, 24, 25, or 35 to Provincial Hospital Station, Dongmen Station, or Lianhuapo Station, then walk to the site.

　　    Introduction: Wenchang Pavilion is situated in the eastern part of Guiyang city proper. Originally built in the 37th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1609), it covers an area of 1,200 square meters. Renowned for its ingenious design and unique structure, it is a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. This Taoist temple is located on Yuecheng at the East Gate of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. It was first built in the 37th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1609), renovated in the 8th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1669), and underwent maintenance and expansion during the Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, and Daoguang eras. The pavilion is a nine-sided, three-story tower-like structure with side halls, and a connected fasting room in front, forming a courtyard layout. The main building is about 20 meters high, 11.47 meters wide, and 11.58 meters deep. It features a three-story, triple-eaved, irregular nine-sided hip-and-gable roof. Each level has many bracket sets, with curved brackets and moderately upturned eaves. The window grilles and wooden panels are painted, showcasing distinctive local architectural style. Originally built to enshrine the God of Literature, it now serves as a cultural relic protection unit in Guiyang.

　　    Architectural Features

　　    The structure consists of three stories, three eaves, and a nine-sided irregular hip-and-gable roof. Currently, all other multi-cornered buildings in China have an even number of equal angles, making the design of Guiyang Wenchang Pavilion unique in the country. The pavilion has three stories and a nine-sided layout, with the ground floor being square in shape. It stands 20 meters tall, with side halls on both sides and a fasting room connected to the side halls in the front. Architecturally, the top-floor golden pillars are supported by the floor beams, while the eave pillars pass through the second floor to serve as the golden pillars of that level. Similarly, the second-floor eave pillars extend down to the ground floor to act as its golden pillars, creating a progressively larger base and a stable, top-small-bottom-large form. Each level offers ample interior space. The exterior is magnificent and imposing. Inside, the second and third floors each have nine purlins, the roof has nine angles, the columns total 54, and the beams 81 — all multiples of nine, reflecting ingenious design. In ancient times, the number “9” symbolized supremacy and abundance, representing the highest power and rank. The structure is simple yet majestic, with an elegant courtyard below. The window grilles and wooden panels are painted, and the carvings differ significantly from those of northern ancient architecture. The side halls and fasting room both feature double-eave, hanging-hip roofs. When first built, there was also an attached stable for horses and mules, and a bronze drum was placed on the main building. The architectural style is distinctly local, and the nine-sided design is rare in China. Perched atop the broad and towering Yuecheng, the pavilion is majestic and grand. From here, the surrounding mountains, rivers, and cityscape stretch out before you, greatly enhancing the experience for visitors.

　　    Ticket Price: Currently free to visitors.

　　    Opening Hours

　　    8:00–18:00

　　    Transportation

　　    Take bus routes 4, 5, 6, 18, 21, 22, 24, 25, 31 (loop), 32, 34, 37, 40, 42, 44, 45, 54, 61, 64, 68, 69, 202, 253, or 303 and get off at Dongmen Station