[2025 Kunshan Attraction] Travel Guide for Wenchang Pavilion (Updated Feb)

✅Wenchang Pavilion is located on the east side of Lianchi Zen Temple by Wubao Lake in Jinxi Ancient Town. It was originally located in Tongshen Taoist Temple and was built in 1330. In the summer of 1767, it collapsed due to a severe storm. In 1773, it was rebuilt with funds raised by the locals and moved to its current location. ✔️In Taoism, Wenchang Dijun is the god of fame and fortune, and advocates benevolence and Confucianism. It is also a symbol of Jinxi's rich culture. In 1991, it was listed as one of the first batch of cultural relics protection units in Kunshan.

Next to the ancient lotus pond in Jinxi Ancient Town, there is an ancient lotus Zen temple. The temple was built by Emperor Xiaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty. It took 40 years to build from the second year of Longxing to the third year of Jiatai. The temple has halls, corridors, pavilions, and water pavilions. The mountain gate is inscribed with "Lianchi Zen Temple" by Qi Gong. There is a Wenchang Pavilion in the courtyard, and the three characters "Ancient Lotus Pond" are written by calligrapher Lu Jiaheng. Lianchi Zen Temple is located by the water, standing tall and quietly lying on the green waves, between the beautiful world, reflecting the lake light and rosy clouds, like a fairyland.

"The Hometown of Chinese Folk Museums" "Thirty-six bridges, seventy-two kilns" A typical southern Yangtze River Delta water town landscape Suitable for weekend trips, walking, stopping, and daydreaming.

🌈On the bank of Dianshan Lake in the southern suburbs of Kunshan, there is a thousand-year-old water town. A stream runs through the town, with peach and plum trees on both sides. The morning and evening glow is all over the river, full of golden stream, as splendid as a brocade belt, hence the name Jinxi. Jinxi Ancient Town is named after this. Although it is not far from the world-famous Zhouzhuang, it does not have the noisy crowd and strong commercial atmosphere. The ancient town is not made up but it is beautiful and completely restores people's surprising impression of the Jiangnan water town. 💥Scenic spot address: No. 18, Shaodian Gang Road, Jinxi Town, Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province Business hours: 8:00-17:00 (winter 16:30) Tour duration: 1-3 hours 🎫Scenic spot ticket: free, joint ticket 65 yuan (visit various exhibition halls) 🚣‍♀️Rowing boat: 150 yuan/boat (6 people) and 25 yuan/person 💫Warm tips There are fewer tourists in Jinxi than in Zhouzhuang and Tongli, and you can feel the simplicity outside the commercial atmosphere. After the boat lady sings the dialect ditty, she will ask the tourists for tips, usually 10 yuan per boat. Tour guide service in the scenic area, 80 yuan per guide. 🚗Transportation: self-driving or taking the bus (133 route, 130 route can reach directly) Tour route Tomb of Chen's Concubine➡️Wenchang Pavilion➡️Lianchi Zen Temple➡️Zhang Sheng Art Museum➡️Purple Sand Museum➡️Ancient Brick and Tile Museum➡️Antique Museum➡️Coin Museum➡️Jinshi Renjia➡️Strange Stone Museum➡️Persimmon Garden➡️Ming and Qing Furniture Museum 💫Must-visit attractions Ancient Lotus Bridge The Ancient Lotus Bridge is the symbol of Jinxi. The bridge corridor is about 200 meters long, in vermilion, and the classical flying eave-style pavilions connect the long corridor. The reflection on the lake surface is the most beautiful when there is no wind, and it is also the best place for photo check-in. Chen's Concubine's Water Tomb The water tomb lies quietly in the lake, surrounded by reeds. What's surprising is that no matter how high the water level is, the water tomb is always exposed on the lake. The talented Wen Zhengming left the words 'Who sees the golden swan at the bottom of the water, the empty fragrance and jade close the beautiful woman. The king's love follows the flowing water, and wins the cold stream still surnamed Chen.' Lianchi Zen Temple The Zen temple took 40 years to build, the temple door faces north, which is unique in Chinese temples, so there is a stone inscription 'Buddhist country of water town, temple door faces north, the only one in the world.' Wenchang Pavilion The scenery here is unique, facing the ancient lotus pond in front, the willow dike on the east, and the treasure pavilion on the west. It is a symbol of the heavy literary atmosphere of Jinxi. Children going to school can worship here. Shen Congwen described Jinxi as a 'girl in sleep', Feng Yingzi called Jinxi 'always suitable for light makeup and heavy makeup', and Liu Haisu praised Jinxi as 'the best in Jiangnan'. Some people call it: Jinxi - the last real water town ancient town in Jiangnan.