Introduction to Zuiweng Pavilion Scenic Area

Ranked first among China’s Four Great Pavilions, Zuiweng Pavilion was first constructed in the 6th year of the Qingli reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1064). Ouyang Xiu, one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song Dynasties, named it and wrote the timeless prose Record of Zuiweng Pavilion, bringing the pavilion worldwide renown. As an ancient commentary puts it: “The landscapes of Chuzhou shine brighter through Master Ouyang’s writing.”

The well-known line “The old drunkard’s heart lies not in the wine, but amid the mountains and rivers” is a household phrase across the country. Within the scenic zone stand pavilions, terraces and verandas of diverse styles, featuring gardens nested within gardens and scenic views layered upon one another, collectively known as the Nine Sights of Zuiweng. The ancient plum tree planted personally by Ouyang Xiu ranks among China’s Four Venerable Plum Trees. The stone stele inscribed with Record of Zuiweng Pavilion handwritten by Su Dongpo is an extremely rare treasure. Zuiweng Pavilion earns the laudatory title “The No.1 Pavilion Under Heaven”. In November 2004, Zuiweng Pavilion was featured on the national stamp set Famous Chinese Pavilions (I), a miniature calling card of China.

Erected in the 2nd year of the Tianqi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1622) by Feng Ruoyu, Vice Minister of the Southern Court of Imperial Stud. Inside the studio stand two stone steles (four sides in total) bearing Su Shi’s calligraphy of Record of Zuiweng Pavilion, completed in the 6th year of the Yuanyou reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1091). The combination of Ouyang Xiu’s prose and Su Shi’s brushwork is a precious artifact of epigraphy. Embedded under the outer eaves on the eastern side of the studio are two stone tablets: Feng Ruoyu’s Record of Baosong Studio and the Ming-dynasty Record of the Reconstruction of Zuiweng Pavilion.

Built in the 2nd year of the Shaosheng reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1095) by local residents of Chuzhou in memory of Wang Yucheng and Ouyang Xiu, both former prefects of Chuzhou. The hall houses statues of the two literati, a complete collection of Complete Works of Lord Ouyang Wenzhong, photographs of Ouyang Xiu’s original handwriting and relevant historical documents. Vertical scrolls inscribed with On Factions and Record of Zuiweng Pavilion hang on the walls.

First built during the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1628–1644). Local people constructed this shrine to honor Feng Ruoyu, Vice Minister of the Southern Court of Imperial Stud in the Ming Dynasty, and his son Feng Yuanbiao, who built Baosong Studio to preserve the precious steles combining Ouyang Xiu’s writing and Su Shi’s calligraphy. The original building was destroyed over time; the present structure was reconstructed on the original site by the Langya Mountain Administration Office in 1988.

The original Shrine of Lord Ouyang stood in the Awakening Heart Garden within Zuiweng Pavilion Scenic Area. It was erected in the 15th year of the Republic of China (1926) by Chen Wenquan, Magistrate of Chuxian County, as a venue for locals to commemorate Ouyang Xiu. The original courtyard, a quadrangle compound with seven single-story rooms, stored countless ancient essays and poems dedicated to Ouyang Xiu. It was ruined by Japanese troops during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

To carry forward the culture of Zuiweng Pavilion and help visitors gain deeper insight into Langya Mountain and the pavilion, the shrine has been reconstructed amid the development of local tourism. The restored shrine contains the Awakening Heart Studio, which enshrines the town-protecting treasure of Langya Mountain from the Qianlong reign: a portrait of Ouyang Xiu carved in stone. Also displayed are a couplet highly praising Ouyang Xiu written by Sun Di, Minister of Personnel and Revenue during Emperor Huizong’s reign of the Northern Song Dynasty, and sacrificial odes to Ouyang Xiu composed by celebrated Northern Song figures Su Shi, Su Zhe, Wang Anshi and Zeng Gong. The studio also recreates murals of the Twelve Sights of Chuzhou from the Ming Dynasty, alongside nearly thirty critiques of Ouyang Xiu by renowned literati dating back to the Northern Song.

Following the layout concept of the original construction, the shrine conforms to the mountain terrain, featuring exposed sloped rock faces, abundant flowers and trees, and winding covered corridors laced with vines. Boasting a unique garden style, the entire courtyard serves as an ideal spot for visitors to remember and pay tribute to Ouyang Xiu.

Situated to the west of Yiyi Pavilion on Langya Mountain. First built during the Hongxi reign of the Ming Dynasty under the original name Plum Viewing Pavilion. In the 24th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1685), Wang Cikui, Prefect of Chuzhou, renamed it Shadow Fragrance Pavilion, for seated visitors can see the reflection of the ancient plum tree north of the pavilion and catch its delicate floral scent at the same time.

Standing south of the Lingxi Stone on Langya Mountain. In the 40th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1561), Mao Peng, Vice Minister of the Southern Court of Imperial Stud, built the All-Spring Pavilion. In the 31st year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1603), Lu Hongxia, Prefect of Chuzhou, chiseled stone channels to divert spring water around the pavilion and recreated the “Winding Stream Flowing Wine Cups” scene depicted in Wang Xizhi’s Preface to the Lanting Collection, creating a space for tourists to play with water and drink wine. Later generations rebuilt the pavilion in the architectural style of Suzhou classical gardens and renamed it Yiyi Pavilion (Pavilion of Hidden Meaning), echoing the core sentiment of Record of Zuiweng Pavilion.

The original structure here was called Plum Auspicious Hall, built in the 14th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1535) by Zhang Mingdao, Assistant Magistrate of Chuzhou, for appreciating the ancient plum tree. In the 17th year of the Republic of China (1928), Huang Yiwu, a local calligrapher, carved the seal inscription “Ancient Plum Pavilion” on the cliff behind the hall, hence the new name. Six stone tablets are embedded on the inner walls of the pavilion, bearing inscriptions by Zhang Penghe (1649–1725), Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Palace and Minister of Personnel in the Qing Dynasty, and other literati.

Located on Langya Mountain, this is the Rang Spring mentioned in Record of Zuiweng Pavilion. The prose writes: “After walking six or seven li up the mountain, one gradually hears gurgling water, pouring forth from between two peaks—that is Niang Spring.”

Niang Spring lies on the southern bank of the Glass Pond beside Zuiweng Pavilion on Langya Mountain. A square stone pool, three chi wide and barely over one chi deep, surrounds the spring source. Above the pool stands a stone stele re-erected in the 40th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1701) by Prefect Wang Cikui, carved with the two characters “Niang Spring”.