Tengwang Pavilion 滕王阁

About Tengwang Pavilion

Its fame comes from Wang Bo’s Tang-period preface, but the building seen today was completed in 1989, with modern construction dressed in Song-style architectural forms. The layered roofs, balconies and elevated river views are the main experience. Inside, literary inscriptions and decoration connect the reconstruction with the pavilion’s long life in Chinese poetry.

The pavilion was first built in the fourth year of the Yonghui era (永徽), 653, by Li Yuanying (李元婴), a son of the Tang founder Emperor Gaozu who was then serving as governor of Hongzhou; because Li Yuanying held the title 'Prince Teng' (滕王), the building took his name. More than twenty years later, the new governor Yan Gong (阎公) rebuilt it and gathered writers to mark the occasion, the event at which Wang Bo composed his preface. The pavilion was destroyed and rebuilt many times through the following dynasties; a Qing-era rebuilding was destroyed in 1853 amid Taiping-era fighting, and the last traditional rebuilding, dating to the Tongzhi era, was destroyed in October 1926 during the Warlord Era.

The present building, completed in 1989 on the original site, follows a design based on sketches by the architect Liang Sicheng (梁思成). It is built of reinforced concrete finished in Song-dynasty style, rises nine storeys to a height of 57.5 meters, and has a total floor area of 13,000 square meters.

The pavilion is counted as one of the Three Great Towers of southern China, alongside Yueyang Tower (岳阳楼) and the Yellow Crane Pavilion (黄鹤楼). It is a National Key Scenic Area (国家重点风景名胜区) and a national 5A tourist attraction (国家5A级旅游景区), and is regarded as a landmark of Nanchang.

What to look for

• The pavilion’s tiered roofs and river-facing balconies.
• Inscriptions associated with Wang Bo’s Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng.

The surrounding area

Provincial city base for noodle breakfasts, Tengwang Pavilion and Gan River scenery.

Location & getting there

Getting to Tengwang Pavilion

Use the scenic-area entrance at 58 Fanggu Street in Donghu District. Wanshougong Station or Tengwangge Station on Metro Line 1 provides an approach, depending on the entrance you choose.