Tengwang Pavilion Scenic Area is located in Donghu District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, on the east bank of the Gan River. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, and together with Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, Hubei, and Yueyang Tower in Yueyang, Hunan, it is known as the "Three Famous Towers in the South of the Yangtze River" and is praised as the "First Tower in the Western River". The total area of the scenic area is approximately 13.1 hectares. The core building, Tengwang Pavilion, is an ancient-style building imitating the Song Dynasty, covering an area of 4,700 square meters, with a total height of 57.5 meters and nine floors. Among them, the main pavilion has three visible floors and seven hidden floors, adopting the traditional architectural form of "three visible and seven hidden floors", which embodies the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Chinese pavilion architecture. Tengwang Pavilion is famous worldwide for Wang Bo's "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion". The scenic area not only includes the main pavilion of Tengwang Pavilion but also supporting landscapes such as the Antique Street, Nanpu Garden, and garden areas, integrating historical culture, architectural art, and garden landscapes, and is a cultural landmark of Nanchang and even Jiangxi.
History and Culture
The history of Tengwang Pavilion can be traced back to the 4th year of Yonghui in the Tang Dynasty (653). It was built by Li Yuanying, the younger brother of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, when he served as the governor of Hongzhou (now Nanchang). Initially, it was a place for banquets and entertainment. Because Li Yuanying's title was "Prince Teng", it was named "Tengwang Pavilion".
Throughout history, Tengwang Pavilion has gone through many ups and downs, and has been rebuilt 29 times. The existing building was rebuilt in 1985 according to the style of the Song Dynasty. Its fame is mainly due to the "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion" by Wang Bo, a poet in the early Tang Dynasty. In the 2nd year of Shangyuan in the Tang Dynasty (675), Wang Bo passed through Hongzhou and was invited to attend a banquet to celebrate the completion of the reconstruction of Tengwang Pavilion. He wrote "Preface to the Feast at Tengwang Pavilion in Hongfu on an Autumn Day" (referred to as "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion") impromptu. Famous lines in the article such as "The falling clouds and the lonely wild duck fly together; the autumn water and the vast sky merge into one color" have been passed down through the ages, making Tengwang Pavilion famous all over the world.
Scholars and poets of all dynasties, such as Bai Juyi, Du Mu, Su Shi, and Xin Qiji, have visited Tengwang Pavilion and left many poems and songs, forming a profound cultural accumulation. The scenic area retains a large number of cultural relics related to Tengwang Pavilion, such as historical documents, inscriptions, and paintings, which systematically show the historical evolution and cultural value of Tengwang Pavilion. Today, Tengwang Pavilion has become an important carrier for inheriting Chinese traditional culture, and its "banquet culture" and "poetry culture" have been included in local intangible cultural heritage.
Main Attractions
Main Pavilion of Tengwang Pavilion
The main pavilion of Tengwang Pavilion is the core building of the scenic area, with a total height of 57.5 meters and a construction area of 13,000 square meters. It adopts a reinforced concrete structure imitating wood, strictly following the "Song Dynasty Construction Regulations". The main pavilion is divided into three parts: the base, the pavilion body, and the roof. The base is 12 meters high, symbolizing the historical foundation of Tengwang Pavilion; the pavilion body has three visible floors and seven hidden floors, with corridors on each floor, from which you can overlook the scenery of the Gan River; the roof is a gable and hip roof with double eaves, covered with peacock blue glazed tiles, and decorated with chiwen (mythical animal) at both ends of the main ridge, with a solemn and elegant shape. The pavilion displays inscriptions of "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion", models of Tengwang Pavilion of past dynasties, plaques with inscriptions by celebrities, etc. Among them, the wood-carved screen of "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion" in the hall on the first floor is 13.5 meters long, which is rare in the country. Climbing to the top floor, you can overlook the scenery of Nanchang city and both banks of the Gan River, and feel the magnificent artistic conception of "bordering on three rivers and surrounding five lakes".
Antique Street
Antique Street is located on the south side of the main pavilion of Tengwang Pavilion, with a total length of 300 meters. It adopts the architectural style of the Song Dynasty, paved with bluestone slabs, and with Song Dynasty-style shops on both sides, covering a total area of about 8,000 square meters. The street gathers shops selling Jiangxi characteristic handicrafts, traditional snacks, cultural and creative products, such as shops selling four treasures of the study, Jingdezhen porcelain, paper-cut artworks, and restaurants providing snacks such as clay pot soup and fried noodles. Antique Street restores the style of the Song Dynasty market, where tourists can buy souvenirs, experience traditional handicraft production, and feel the atmosphere of ancient commercial streets.
Nanpu Garden
Nanpu Garden is located on the north side of Tengwang Pavilion, built along the Gan River, covering an area of about 2 hectares. It gets its name from "Nanpu" in the sentence "The painted beams face the clouds of Nanpu in the morning" in "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion". The garden is mainly composed of garden landscapes, planted with willows, peach trees, camphor trees and other plants, and equipped with landscape sketches such as curved bridges, pavilions on the water, and rockeries, reproducing the exquisiteness and elegance of Jiangnan gardens. There is a model of "Bronze Sparrow Terrace" in the garden, forming a "dialogue between ancient and modern times" with Tengwang Pavilion; there is a viewing platform by the river, which is an excellent place to watch the sunset over the Gan River and overlook Nanchang Bridge. In the evening, the artistic conception of "The falling clouds and the lonely wild duck fly together" is reproduced here.
Tengwang Pavilion Museum
Tengwang Pavilion Museum is located on the west side of the main pavilion, with a construction area of 2,000 square meters. It is a special museum displaying the history and culture of Tengwang Pavilion. The museum is divided into exhibition areas such as "Evolution of Tengwang Pavilion", "Celebrities and Tengwang Pavilion", and "Culture of 'Preface to Tengwang Pavilion'". Through cultural relics, pictures, multimedia and other forms, it systematically introduces the 29 reconstruction processes of Tengwang Pavilion, the stories of inscriptions by celebrities of past dynasties, and the creation background and influence of "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion". The museum houses precious cultural relics such as models of Tengwang Pavilion from the Ming Dynasty, plaques of Tengwang Pavilion from the Qing Dynasty, and various engraved editions of Wang Bo's "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion". Among them, "Painting of Tengwang Pavilion" painted by Leng Mei, a painter of the Qing Dynasty, is the treasure of the museum.
Food
Clay Pot Soup
Clay pot soup is a characteristic traditional snack in Nanchang, sold in restaurants and breakfast shops around Tengwang Pavilion Scenic Area. It uses clay pots as containers, with ingredients (such as pork ribs, minced pork cakes, black-bone chicken, white fungus, etc.) and Chinese medicinal materials (such as wolfberry, codonopsis, angelica, etc.) placed in layers, and simmered slowly with charcoal fire in a specially made clay pot for 3-4 hours. Clay pot soup is original in flavor and rich in nutrition. Common varieties include clay pot pork rib soup and clay pot minced pork cake soup, with prices ranging from 5 to 15 yuan. It is a must-try for tourists to experience Nanchang's food culture.
Fried Noodles
Nanchang fried noodles are a classic local snack, which can be found everywhere in snack stalls and restaurants near Tengwang Pavilion. It uses Jiangxi's unique indica rice noodles, which are blanched with boiling water, drained, and stir-fried quickly over high heat with ingredients such as eggs, green vegetables, shredded pork, bean sprouts, and chili peppers. The noodles are smooth and chewy, salty, fragrant, and slightly spicy. Fried noodles are quick to make, full in portion, and priced at about 8-15 yuan. They are a convenient choice for tourists to satisfy their hunger. When paired with clay pot soup, they are known as the "golden partner" of Nanchang's breakfast.
Stir-Fried Artemisia Selengensis with Bacon
Stir-fried Artemisia selengensis with bacon is one of the top ten classic dishes in Jiangxi, and is served in many Gan cuisine restaurants around Tengwang Pavilion. Artemisia selengensis is a wild vegetable endemic to Poyang Lake, with a tender and fresh taste. When stir-fried with bacon, the salty aroma of the bacon and the fresh fragrance of Artemisia selengensis blend together, creating a unique flavor. This dish is highly seasonal (best in spring) and priced at around 30-50 yuan. It embodies the "fresh, spicy and mellow" characteristics of Jiangxi cuisine and is a representative dish for tasting Gan cuisine.
Scenic Area Restaurants
There is a "Tengwang Pavilion Feast" theme restaurant in Tengwang Pavilion Scenic Area, located in the middle of Antique Street, with a construction area of about 1,000 square meters, focusing on Gan cuisine and antique banquets. The restaurant offers characteristic set meals such as "Tengwang Pavilion Preface Feast" and "Prince Teng Feast". The names of the dishes are mostly derived from famous sentences in "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion", such as "Falling clouds reflecting lonely wild ducks" (roast duck) and "Autumn water and vast sky" (steamed fish), which are both delicious and culturally rich. The average consumption is about 80-150 yuan, where tourists can experience ancient banquet culture and feel the atmosphere of "hosts and guests are all the beauties of the southeast".
Tickets
The ticket price is 50 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "滕王阁旅游区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are 8:00-18:30 daily (April 1 - October 31) and 8:00-18:00 daily (November 1 - March 31 of the next year). The last entry time is 1 hour before closing, and the clearing time for the main pavilion is 30 minutes before closing. The "Prince Teng's Banquet Music" live performance in the scenic area is held every night from 19:30 to 20:30 (separate ticket required, may be canceled on rainy days), and the specific details are subject to the scenic area announcement.
Tour Route
Tourists can enter from the south gate of the scenic area, first visit Antique Street (about 30 minutes) to buy souvenirs and experience the Song Dynasty market style; then enter the main pavilion of Tengwang Pavilion, visit from the first floor to the ninth floor in sequence, appreciate the cultural relics exhibition in the pavilion, and climb to the top to overlook the scenery of the Gan River (about 1.5 hours); after going down the pavilion, go to Tengwang Pavilion Museum to learn about the historical evolution of Tengwang Pavilion (about 40 minutes); have lunch at Antique Street or the scenic area restaurant at noon (about 1 hour); visit Nanpu Garden in the afternoon, stroll and rest in the garden, and enjoy the river view at the riverside viewing platform (about 40 minutes); if watching the "Prince Teng's Banquet Music" performance, you can enter the scenic area again in the evening to experience the night view of Tengwang Pavilion under the lights and the live performance (about 1 hour). The total tour time is about 4-5 hours. Those with sufficient time can participate in interactive activities such as poetry recitation and ancient costume experience in the scenic area.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Nanchang Metro Line 1 to "Tengwang Pavilion" Station, exit from Exit 2, and walk for about 5 minutes to reach the south gate of the scenic area, with a total journey of about 30 minutes (from the city center).
- Bus: You can take Nanchang Bus Lines 2, 7, 26, 38, 227, 170, 830, etc., get off at "Tengwang Pavilion" Station, and walk for 2-3 minutes to reach the scenic area. The fare is 2 yuan per person, and the operation time is 6:00-22:00.
- Self-driving: Starting from Nanchang Station, drive along Zhanqian Road to Fuhe North Road for about 4 kilometers to reach the parking lot of Tengwang Pavilion Scenic Area, with a driving time of about 15 minutes; starting from Nanchang West Station, drive along Fengsheng Expressway to Nanchang Bridge, then along Fuhe North Road for about 12 kilometers, with a driving time of about 30 minutes. The charging standard for the scenic area parking lot is 5 yuan per hour for small cars, with a daily maximum of 30 yuan.
- Ferry: You can take a ferry from "Qiushui Square" Wharf on the west bank of the Gan River to "Tengwang Pavilion" Wharf, with a voyage of about 10 minutes and a fare of 10 yuan per person. The operation time is 9:00-17:00, with one ferry per hour. After getting off the ferry, walk for 1 minute to reach the north gate of the scenic area.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Main Pavilion of Tengwang Pavilion: With a total height of 57.5 meters and a structure of three visible and seven hidden floors, the pavilion displays cultural relics related to "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion". Climbing to the top, you can overlook the scenery of the Gan River, and it is the core attraction to feel the artistic conception of "The falling clouds and the lonely wild duck fly together".
- Tengwang Pavilion Museum: It systematically displays the 29 reconstruction history of Tengwang Pavilion and inscriptions by celebrities of past dynasties, and houses precious cultural relics such as "Painting of Tengwang Pavilion" from the Qing Dynasty. It is an important window to understand the culture of Tengwang Pavilion.
- Nanpu Garden: A Jiangnan garden built along the river, where you can watch the sunset over the Gan River and the cityscape of Nanchang. In the evening, the landscape highly matches the artistic conception of the famous sentences in "Preface to Tengwang Pavilion", which is highly ornamental.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit the main pavilion from 9:00-11:00 in the morning or 15:00-17:00 in the afternoon. At this time, the light is suitable for taking photos, and there are relatively few tourists, which is convenient for quiet appreciation.
- When visiting the main pavilion, you can rent an electronic interpreter (30 yuan per unit) or follow the scenic area guide (free, departing on the hour) to learn more about architectural details and historical stories. The explanation lasts about 1 hour.
- If you want to experience the "Prince Teng's Banquet Music" live performance, it is recommended to buy tickets in advance through official channels (ticket price 168 yuan per person). The performance combines lights, singing and dancing, and poetry to restore the Tang Dynasty banquet scene, which is highly ornamental.
- The scenic area is close to attractions such as Nanchang August 1st Uprising Memorial Hall and Shengjin Tower. You can plan a one-day tour route to visit them in series to enrich your itinerary.
Notes
- Smoking and loud noises are prohibited in the main pavilion. Touching cultural relics and exhibits is prohibited. Using flash when taking photos is prohibited. Please take good care of historical buildings and cultural relics.
- The stairs to the pavilion are steep, especially the corridors on the upper floors are narrow. Please pay attention to safety, do not chase and play, and take good care of the elderly and children.
- Pay attention to sun protection when visiting in summer. The main pavilion is well-ventilated, but the top floor has strong sunlight, so you can bring a sun hat; the pavilion is relatively cold in winter, so it is recommended to wear warm clothes.
- The prices of shops in Antique Street in the scenic area may be higher than those in the urban area. You can bargain appropriately when buying souvenirs; confirm the price before dining to avoid consumption disputes.
- There are many tourists on holidays, so it is recommended to travel at off-peak times; the number of parking spaces in the scenic area is limited, so it is recommended to choose public transportation during peak hours.