[Chang Sha]Tianxin Pavilion

Built in 1924 and covering an area of 40 mu (about 2.67 hectares), Tianxin Pavilion Scenic Spot is located in the center of Changsha. It is known as the first garden in Changsha built to preserve the site of the ancient city wall and the ancient Tianxin Pavilion which is one of the famous pavilions with high historic and cultural significance in China. Now the scenic area is listed as a national 4A-level scenic spots.

Originally built in the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC-220 AD), the ancient city wall is 2,200 years old. In 1372, its earthen walls was reconstructed into brick ones on stone foundation. The 8.5-kilometer-long wall encompassed the downtown area of Changsha in the shape of rectangle. Now the extant ancient city wall is 251 meters in length and 13.4 meters in height. Barbican entrances to the city on south and north sides are elaborately equipped with cannon-cave, secret passage and warehouse inside, which makes the city wall easy to defend but hard to conquer and thus a place of great military importance. It is now of great value in ancient city defense research.

Located above the city wall, the over-500-year-old Tianxin Pavilion is a landmark in Changsha. The pavilion and the city wall enjoy a reputation of the Ancient Pavilion of Xiaoxiang and Famous City Wall of the Qin and Han dynasties respectively. The three-storey main pavilion is 14.6 meters in height, with two 10-meter-high assisted pavilions respectively standing in south and north connected by veranda. Tianxin Pavilion is a typical garden architecture in south China of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1644).

The main body of Tianxin Pavilion, and two rooms located on its both sides look like a bow when seen from above.

Interior of Tianxin Pavilion Park 

Tianxin Pavilion, Du Fu Pavilion, and Yuelu Mountain seem to be built on the same line, forming the cultural landmarks of the city.

Tianxin Pavilion was built based on a cantilever beam structure. The construction area of the three-story building amounts to 846 sqm. 

A dazzling view of the Tianxin Pavilion Light and Shadow Park, Tianxin District, Changsha City. (Photos/Zou Lin and Wang Zhiwei, Changsha Evening News)

The local government began to renovate the Tianxin Pavilion Park in March 2024. The park's garden landscapes, pavilion area and exhibitions have been comprehensively upgraded. Immersive performances are designed, and ten scenes including a light and shadow tunnel and water curtain projection are created to integrate historical and cultural elements into the sound, light and electricity technologies.

After half a year of renovation, the park has been upgraded into the first light and shadow theme park in Hunan. The park officially opened to the public on October 1, with night tours of Tianxin Pavilion launched. 

Address: No. 17, Tianxin Road, Tianxin District, Changsha

Honor: National 4A-level Scenic Area

Ticket prices:

Daytime tours: 30 yuan/adult

Night tours: 58 yuan/adult

Opening hours:

Daytime tours: Monday to Sunday; 8:00-17:30 (summer); 8:00-17:00 (winter)

Night tours: Tuesday to Sunday; 18:30-22:30 (summer); 18:00-22:00 (winter)

Note: On Monday evening when equipment maintenance is conducted, the pavilion area is not open for night tours. The scenic area's public and business areas are open until 24:00.

Service hotline: 86-731-85563262/85155379

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn; official website of the Tianxin Pavilion Scenic Area; official WeChat account of the Changsha Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television

Photo source: hunan.gov.cn; Changsha Evening News; Xinhua