Daguan
Park, located 7
kilometers west of
Kunming, is known for
its longest antithetical
couplet in China. First
built in 1682 by a monk,
the park once served as
a Guanyin (Avalokistesvara’s)
Temple. In 1690,
large-scale construction
was carried out with
flowers, trees, ponds,
causeways, pavilions and
halls added to it.
The park provides a
spectacular view across
sparkling Dianchi Lake
to the distant Western
Hills. Among the ancient
architectures in this
park, the three-storey
Daguan Pavilion, which
is decorated with flying
eaves and splendid
paintings, is the
highlight of Daguan
Park.
On the pavilion’s
lakeside facade hang two
5-meter-long tablets on
which a couplet was
written by Sun Ranweng,
a famous poet of the
Qing dynasty. Consisting
of 180 Chinese
characters, this couplet
is reputed as the
longest couplet
throughout China. The
upper scroll depicts the
beautiful scenery of
Kunming, while the lower
scroll contains the
author’s comments on
some important
historical events in
Yunnan. Personal
feelings and beautiful
sceneries mix together
in this couplet, adding
more charm to this park.
Standing on the
pavilion, people could
have an overview of the
park and the sceneries
nearby.
On every Mid-Autumn
Festival (Moon Cake
Festival), as custom,
Kunming locals normally
go to Daguan Park to
enjoy flowers and the
full moon. Deeply
immersed in thick
moonlight, the park
looks more enchanting
than ever. |