Introdution
Sitting on a boulder, in the center of the city, on the city famous river - Nanming River, Jiaxu Pavillion was first established in the Ming dynasty in 1598, and is the landmark of Guiyang City; hundreds of years of history endow this beautiful building with fabulous charm.
Jiaxiu means "the finest and most talented under heaven." Jiaxiu Pavilion was given this name because it was believed that people in Guiyang were the finest and most talented under heaven. Jiaxiu Pavillion is a 20-meter-high, three-floor structure with a three-eave hipped roof, and has its outer joinery propped up by 12 stone pillars. The tower is surrounded by a marble balustrade. It is linked with Fuyu Bridge which provides access to both the south and north banks of the river. Jiaxiu Pavilion enjoys a rich collection of stone engravings, calligraphy works, paintings and woodworks by ancient artists.
History & Background
This traditional Chinese-style structure was built in 1597, during the Ming Dynasty, and is connected to the banks on both sides of the river by the Fuyu Bridge. It was built by Jiang Dongzhi, the governor of Guizhou province and had been enlarged six times by 1981, when the Guiyang Government set aside funds to repair it. The tower has stood for 400 years and is witness to Guiyang’s past and a symbol of its cultural development.
Jiaxiu Pavilion has three stories, three eaves, four corners and a dome, with a structure that is unique in early architecture of China. This feature makes the tower famous and enhances its appreciation, attracting tourists and architects to get a close look at it. The tower is around 20 meters high and has upturned eaves supported by 12 stone columns, protected by white carved stone rails. People can enjoy the scenery around the tower, with the 90-m Fuyu Bridge looking like a dragon lying on the water. It passes through the Tower and and has the Hanbi Pavilion on it, with Hanbi Pond and the Shuiyue Platform. To the south of the bridge is the Cuiwei Tower.
Many authors wrote poems on the Jiaxiu Pavilion, one of the most popular of which is the 206-character couplet by Liu Yushan, of the Qing Dynasty. It is 26 characters longer than the "longest couplet" in the world, on the Daguan Tower, in Kunming, Yunnan province. Liu's couplet describes the geography and other features of Guiyang, a mountain city. The tower unites picturesque mountains and brilliant water with its exclusive beauty and, when evening falls and the bright lights come on, you'll be amazed if you visit it.
The long couplet gives the history of the tower and its location then details the scenery around it, with the author expressing his love ascending the Tower and appreciating the scenery.
Information
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 8:00-20:00
Transportation:
How to Get to There: The Jiaxiu Pavilion is near Dananmen Gate, in downtown Guiyang, and can be reached by buses No 1 and 2 on the ring route, by getting off at the Post Office then walking for about 5 minutes.