Aiwan Pavilion is situated at Qingfeng Gorge at the foot of Yuelu Mountain in Hunan Province. It is located at west with the front facing the east. Three sides of the pavilion are mountains. It was built in the 57th year during Qianlong Period of Qing Dynasty (1792) by Luo Dian, the then headmaster of Yuelu Academy. The original name of the pavilion was Hongye Pavilion. Bi Yuan, the governor-general of Hunan and Hubei provinces (in feudal China), changed its name as Aiwan Pavilion according to the poem "Shan Xing" (a tour on mountain) created by Du Mu, a poet of Tang Dynasty. The poem is as follows: In autumn, I was walking along a stone-paved path toward the mountain and found houses hidden in the depth of the mountain. I stopped my coach amid falling maple leaves already redder than the flowers in February. After several large-scale repairs in Tongzhi Period, Guangxu Period, Xuantong Period, the Republic of China period and P.R.C established, the present pattern has been gradually formed. Present Aiwan Pavilion, as a provincial cultural relic, together with Zuiweng Pavilion (built in 1046) in Chuzhou of Anhui Province, Huxin Pavilion (built in 1552) in West Lake of Hangzhou and Taoran Pavilion (built in 1695) in Taoranting Park of Beijing, are named as the four famous pavilions in China. Aiwan Pavilion is a famous spot for revolutionary activities. Mao Zedong studied in Hunan First Normal School in his youth. He often came to Yuelu Academy with Luo Xuezan and Zhang Kundi, and gathered together at Aiwan Pavilion with Cai Hesen. They discussed the current political situation and sought for the truth.
This pavilion was destroyed during the War of Resistance against Japan. It was rebuilt in 1952 and overhauled in 1987. This pavilion is with double eaves and eight columns. Green glazed tiles are covered on the eaves with each corner protruded. From afar, it seems to be flying. In the pavilion, there are round columns colored with red paint. Four stone columns under the outer eave are made of granite. The plafond with colored drawing is placed on the roof in the pavilion. Two boards inscribed with gilding characters "Aiwan Pavilion" on the red background are hung on the lattice windows in east and west. Li Da, the then President of Hunan University, wrote a letter to Chairman Mao Zedong and invited him to inscribe for Aiwan Pavilion. These Chinese characters were made according to the original handwriting of the Chairman Mao Zedong. A monument was set up in the pavilion with Chairman Mao Zedong's poem "Qinyuanchun. Changsha" carved on it. It was also carved according to his original handwriting. Fluent and free like a moving dragon and a snake, his handwriting makes the ancient pavilion more beautiful and magnificent.Aiwan Pavilion, praised as a classic building, is a heavy weight in domestic pavilions and terraces.
