Huizhou Liudan Pavilion

Approaching Diancui Isle across the zigzagging Nine-Bend Bridge, visitors encounter a structure that anchors the tranquil waters of Huizhou’s West Lake. Liudan Pavilion emerges from a dense canopy of ancient banyan and kapok trees, its green roof tiles and red walls reflecting on the lake's surface. The pavilion occupies a site with deep historical roots, first established in the Northern Song Dynasty as Gu Yu Pavilion and later known as Diancui Pavilion.

Today, the building stands as a memorial to the human cost of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution. In 1913, local citizens rebuilt the pavilion to honor Chen Jing and fourteen other young revolutionaries who died during the Ma'an Campaign against Qing forces. Chen Jing, a twenty-two-year-old student known for his literary talent and love of local folk songs, frequently visited this very island before his execution. The pavilion’s name, Liudan, draws directly from a famous line by the Song loyalist Wen Tianxiang, expressing a desire to leave a loyal heart shining in the pages of history.

The current architecture, finalized during a 1959 renovation, features an 'I'-shaped floor plan and a distinctive roof that merges the solemn gable-and-hip style with a gently sloping arch design. White stone balustrades and interconnecting corridors guide visitors through the space. At the main entrance, a wooden plaque inscribed by Liao Chengzhi hangs above a couplet crafted by the scholar Chen Jinghong. This couplet seamlessly weaves together the verses of Su Dongpo and Wen Tianxiang, merging the natural beauty of the lake with the enduring courage of the martyrs.

Standing within the pavilion, visitors can read the inscribed names of the fallen and trace the site's evolution through the centuries. The surrounding foliage dips its branches toward the water, creating a secluded atmosphere. Liudan Pavilion offers a quiet space to reflect on the intersection of natural landscape, classical poetry, and the sacrifices that shaped modern China.