Tengwang Pavilion

Introducing Tengwang Pavilion (from wikipedia)
The Pavilion of Prince Teng or Tengwang Pavilion is a building in the north west of the city of Nanchang, on the east bank of the Gan River and is one of the Three Great Towers of southern China. The other two are the Yueyang Tower and the Yellow Crane Pavilion. Now the Pavilion of Prince Teng is the landmark of Nanchang. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times over its history. The present building was rebuilt in 1989 on the original site. The rebuilding plan was devised by the famous architect Liang Sicheng. It is 57.5 metres tall and has nine stories in total. The main architectural structure is in Song dynasty wooden style, showing the magnificence of the Pavilion.

Tengwang Pavilion Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Teng Wang Ge 滕王阁
• Best Time to Visit: March to May; Sept to Nov
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 1 to 2 hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Architecture, Chinese Culture,
• Opening Hours: 08:00-18:30 from Apr to Oct; 08:00-18:00 from Nov to Mar
• Entrance Fee: CNY 50 from Apr to Oct; CNY 45 from Nov to Mar
• Address: No.58 Fanggu Street, Donghu District, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province

What to expect at Tengwang Pavilion

History & Influences

The Pavilion of Prince Teng was first built in 653 AD, by Li Yuanying, the younger brother of Emperor Taizong of Tang and uncle of Emperor Gaozong of Tang. Li Yuanying was enfeoffed as Prince Teng in 639 and spent his early years in Suzhou. In 652 he was assigned the governorship of Nanchang where the pavilion served as his townhouse. The Pavilion of Prince Teng is the only existing royal architecture in southern China. Twenty years later, the building was rebuilt by the new governor. Upon its completion, a group of local intelligentsia gathered to compose prose and poetry about the building. The most famous of these is the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng by Wang Bo. This piece made the Pavilion of Prince Teng a household name in China down to the present day. The Pavilion was subsequently destroyed and rebuilt a total of 29 times over the next centuries. The building itself changed shape and function many times.

The Pavilion of Prince Teng was endowed by later generations with almost legendary status as an example of magnificent architecture. When the Forbidden City was built, its corner towers were built to imitate the Pavilion of Prince Teng and the Yellow Crane Pavilion as depicted in Song Dynasty paintings. These uniquely structured corner towers remain some of the most valued architectural treasures of the Forbidden City. The Tengwang Pavilion was regarded as the holy land in several dynasties in the history of China. In the mean time, Tengwang Pavilion is the ancient library as well, storing a large number of precious scriptures and poems.

Recent Architectures

The present Pavilion of Prince Teng was built according to the design of architect Liang Sicheng, and was completed on 8 October 1989. The building has a total floor area of 13,000 square meters (140,000 sq ft). The building sits atop a 12 meters (39 ft) tall concrete platform, which symbolizes the now-destroyed ancient city wall. A stainless steel tablet at the entrance is engraved with a calligraphy work of Mao Zedong quoted from Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng.

A beautiful garden which is built in 1989 is the perfect ornament of the Pavilion. The building mainly serves tourism purposes. Apart from internal decoration, attractions include a theater that stages performances of period music, and displays of reconstructed ancient instruments. There are some restaurants and souvenir shops. The streets around the pavilion have been designed to conform with its style. This area has become the epicenter of Nanchang's antiques trade.

How to get to Tengwang Pavilion
• Tengwang Pavilion can be reached by local bus 26, 38, 39, 52, 170 and 228 or Metro Line 1.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Nanchang to Tengwang Pavilion.

Additional travel advice on Tengwang Pavilion
• Keep your passport on you to claim the ticket.
• Visitors can take a night cruise at Tengwangge Pier to admire the night beauty of the pavilion and the city along the Gan River.