Daguan Lou, Historical pavilion in Xishan District, China
Daguan Lou is a three-story pavilion located beside Dianchi Lake in a spacious park setting. The structure displays traditional Chinese architecture and is surrounded by various gardens and smaller buildings throughout the grounds.
The pavilion was built in 1696 by governor Wang Jiwen and experienced multiple destructions from warfare and flooding over the centuries. The major restoration in 1883 brought it to the state visitors see today.
The name Daguan refers to the grand view of the lake visible from this spot. Visitors can still admire the famous verse carved into the gate pillars that shapes how the pavilion is experienced today.
The site is accessible on foot and best explored by walking through the grounds at a relaxed pace. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the park has multiple sections spread across the area.
The pavilion features a carved verse of 118 characters on its gate pillars, recognized as one of the longest rhyming couplets in Chinese literature. This text is so skillfully composed that it tells the story of the lake and surroundings in poetic form.
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