Daguan Park and Pavilion

A large lakeside park on the northwestern shore of Dianchi, Daguan ("Grand View") was laid out in the late 17th century around an existing Buddhist temple and has been the favourite spot in Kunming to view the lake ever since. The Daguan Pavilion itself, a three-storey wooden tower with sweeping eaves, stands on a small island and is famous for the 180-character couplet that frames its main doorway.

The park is bigger than it first appears: extensive flower gardens, willow-shaded paths, ornamental rockeries, and a popular boating lake. Locals come for the morning tai chi and the camellia bloom in late winter. The view of the Western Hills across Dianchi from the upper floor of the pavilion is the classic Kunming postcard image.

things to do sight park
A story
The Long Couplet at the Daguan Pavilion, composed by the Qing-dynasty scholar Sun Ranweng in the 18th century, runs to 180 characters and is considered the longest classical couplet in China. The upper line surveys the geography of Dianchi Lake; the lower line tells the history of Yunnan. Both are carved on tall lacquered panels framing the pavilion entrance.