Dongpo Pavilion Opening Ceremony Held at Yangxian Xishan

On the morning of August 10th, Dongpo Pavilion Opening Ceremony was held at the mountaintop courtyard of Yangxian Xishan Dongpo Pavilion. The event was hosted by Yixing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, and jointly organized by Yixing Yangxian Ecological Tourism Zone Management Office, Yixing Culture, Sports, Broadcasting, Television and Tourism Bureau, Yixing Urban Construction Culture Leisure Group and Yada Health Ecological Park.

Secretary of Yixing Municipal Party Committee Mr. Shen Jian, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Municipal NPC Mr. Zhou Bin, Deputy Mayor Mr. Ma Zhong, famous ancient architecture expert and professor of Architecture School of Southeast University Mr. Zhu Guangya and Chairman of Yada Mr. Jiang Jianing attended the event. Ms. Shen Xiaohong, member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and Director of the Propaganda Department hosted the Ceremony.

During the event, pupils delegate from Hufu Town recited poems of Su Dongpo that reminded of his reminiscence to Yangxian’s landscape.

As the designer of Dongpo Pavilion, Professor Mr. Zhu Guangya told the design process of Dongpo Pavilion and construction method. Hilly Yangxian Xishan was characteristic of Mi-style landscape called by traditional Chinese painters. It is extreme caution that designing the courtyard and pavilion of a picturesque scenery requires. On one hand, it need integrate the landform into landscape. On the other hand, it should embody the style of Song Dynasty and the spirit of Dongpo. The overall architecture of Dongpo Pavilion was constructed according to the official buildings in Yingzao Fashi from the Song Dynasty, with Jiangnan-style hall framework of the Song Dynasty and architectural complex space imagery of Song paintings. Architecture was in harmony with the natural landscape. The complex at the mountain top was composed of the main pavilion, Jade and Verdancy that were connected by buildings, corridors and Rainbow Bridge into an enclosed courtyard. The mountain complex contained three entrance gates, namely Dongda, Qiankun and Zhongbo as well as veranda. The overall architecture integrates the beauty of traditional Chinese architecture into pretty hills and waters of Yangxian from location planning, general layout to building construction, which makes it an ideal place to meditate on the past and enjoy landscape uphill.  

Professor Zhu Guangya expressed his wishes to the opening of Dongpo Pavilion by the couplet, “Splendid Landscape of Hufu Welcomes Friends, Gentle Breeze of Dongpo Pavilion Reminds Su’s Poetry”.

In the Ceremony, Chairman Mr. Jiang Jianning pointed out that, “Today is the third anniversary of Yixing Yada Health Park project contract conclusion.” In the past three years, Yada has insisted in the principle of public welfare first. Yada created two major projects, namely Lakeside Park and Dongpo Pavilion first. In 2019, the Lakeside Park has been completed and donated to the Government. It has become an ideal place for the public to close to the nature. After opening, Dongpo Pavilion would show indissoluble bond between the great writer Su Dongpo and Yixing.

It is not only for paying tribute to the ancient sages, but also promoting Yixing culture that Yada built Dongpo Pavilion. Dongpo Pavilion would be a unique landscape architecture and a history-related scenery, where tourists ascend a height to enjoy the splendid view of Yangxian hills and waters, feel the spirit and personal charisma of Su Dongpo, and realize abundant humanity history and deep cultural deposits of Yixing.

Chairman Mr. Jiang Jianning warmly welcomed everyone to visit the landscape of lakes and mountains loved by Su Dongpo, experience distinctive passion for life, and witness a better transformation of southern mountain area in Yixing.

Director Mr. Zhou Bin and Deputy Mayor Mr. Ma Zhong unveiled the Dongpo statue named Homeward Bound. The copper statue was created by sculptor Mr. Shi Hongling who was inspired by the poem of Su Dongpo Courtyard Full of Fragrance. It showed the humanitarianism of Su Dongpo and delivered his reminiscence to Yixing landscape.

Secretary Mr. Shen Jian expressed his warm congratulation to the opening of Dongpo Pavilion. He pointed out that, the great writer Su Dongpo, fond of Yixing’s humanity and nature, has left his wishes to spend his remaining years in Yixing. It represents strong cultural ambience and rich cultural connotation that Yada donated Dongpo Pavilion. Climbing up to Dongpo Pavilion can experience bold and unconstrained life of Su, appreciate the local romance and feel sincere feelings of Yadao to Yixing development. The opening of Dongpo Pavilion will certainly be a remarkable milestone in the integration development of ecology, culture and tourism of Yixing.

He said, Yixing Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government adhered to ecology first and green development, and cultivated ecological culture tourism as a strategic industry. They would accelerate the creation of first-class leisure tourism zone and tourism destination, and the revitalization of tourism in Yixing.

Secretary Mr. Shen Jian and Chairman Mr. Jiang Jianning unveiled Dongpo Pavilion.

Then, Secretary Mr. Shen Jian visited the Exhibition of Su Dongpo with Yixing and the display at Origin Hall of Dongpo Pavilion.

Yada management team also attended the event including Mr. Dong Huanbo, Mr. Li Suiching, Mr. Liu Naifa, Mr. Zhu Haoyi, Mr. Zhu Qianhui, Mr. Miao Jiliang and Mr. Yang Kui.