Pavilion of Prince Teng

The Pavilion of Prince Teng (滕王阁) stands on the eastern bank of the Gan River and has been one of Jiangxi's landmark buildings since the Tang dynasty, when it was constructed by Li Yuanying, the younger brother of Emperor Taizong, in 653 CE. The current structure is the 29th reconstruction — fire, war, and neglect destroyed the pavilion repeatedly over thirteen centuries. The present version, completed in 1989, rises nine stories and is built in a Tang dynasty architectural style, though at a scale the original would not have matched.

The views from the upper floors over the Gan River and the Honggutan skyline across the water are the best panoramic views in the city. Entry is free if you arrive early morning or late afternoon on certain days. The riverside park surrounding the pavilion is pleasant for an evening walk, and the illuminated pavilion at night reflects well on the water.

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A story
The pavilion inspired one of the most celebrated prose poems in Chinese literature: Wang Bo's "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng," written in 675 CE when Wang was reportedly 26 years old. He composed it impromptu at a banquet thrown by the local governor. The line "setting sun and lone wild duck fly together; autumn water and the vast sky share the same color" (落霞与孤鹜齐飞,秋水共长天一色) is among the most quoted sentences in classical Chinese prose.

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