Tianxin Pavilion (天心阁), located within Tianxin Park, was reconstructed during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. It was destroyed by the Wenxi Fire during the War of Resistance Against Japan and later rebuilt in 1983. The pavilion is a three-story structure with a building area of 846 square meters, featuring green tiles, flying eaves, and elaborately painted beams. Surrounding the pavilion is the only remaining section of the ancient city wall of Changsha. Nearby, there is an archway called “Chonglie Gate,” built in 1946 to commemorate the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the three major battles of Changsha during the war.
Originally named “Tianxing Pavilion,” its name derives from the ancient Ming Dynasty concept of “Xingye,” corresponding to the “Changsha Star” in the heavens. This made the pavilion a site for ancient astronomers to observe celestial phenomena and conduct rituals to honor the gods. Additionally, the pavilion is located at the highest point of Longfu Mountain in ancient Changsha, considered by the ancients to be an auspicious site of feng shui, where people would come to pray for blessings, ward off disasters, and ensure prosperity. During the Qianlong period, when the Chengnan Academy was relocated to the foot of the city wall below Tianxin Pavilion, the pavilion served as a cultural and ceremonial site associated with the academy. Inside, statues of Wenchang Dijun and Kuixing were enshrined to bless the literary fortunes of Changsha. In the past, the pavilion attracted a steady stream of worshippers, and scholars often visited to enjoy the view and compose poetry.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Tianxin Pavilion Scenic Area
- Vlog about Tianxin Pavilion
- History of Tianxin Pavilion
- Attractions Near Tianxin Pavilion
Basic Information
Estimated Length of Tour | 1 – 2 hours |
Ticket Price | 32 RMB |
Opening Hours | 7.30 – 17.30 |
Telephone Number | 0086-0731-85155379 0086-0731-85829982 |
Location and Transportation
Tianxin Pavilion is located at No. 17 Tianxin Road, Tianxin District, Changsha, Hunan Province, China. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 122, 145, 167, 311, 402, 406, or 908, and get off at Tianxin Pavilion Stop (天心阁站).
Metro: The closest metro station to Tianxin Pavilion is Nanmenkou (南门口) on line 1. After getting out of the station from Exit 3, walk about 500 meters to the east to reach the attraction.
Highlights of Tianxin Pavilion Scenic Area
Tianxin Pavilion Structure

Tianxin Pavilion was rebuilt on the ancient city wall of the Ming Dynasty, which stands 17.5 meters high, with an elevation of over 60 meters above sea level, towering 30 meters above the city, offering a commanding view of the area. The main pavilion has three stories, with two-story auxiliary pavilions on each side connected by long corridors, arranged in a curved layout resembling a bird spreading its wings. The pavilion features yellow tiles with flying eaves and upturned corners, and its 32 auxiliary pavilion corners are adorned with iron horses and copper bells that chime melodiously in the wind. The southern plaque of the main pavilion bears the name “天心阁,” while the northern one reads “Panoramic View of Chu.” The site of the former Wenchang Pavilion, located to the north, has been preserved as an open courtyard, with a bow-shaped mountain wall and waist gate built on its eastern side.
Ancient City Wall

According to the “Han Official Etiquette” by Ying Shao from the Eastern Han Dynasty, the city walls of Changsha were first constructed during the Warring States period. In 202 BC, during the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu of Han’s reign, Wu Rui, the magistrate of Panyang under the Qin Dynasty, was granted the title of King of Changsha by Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty, in recognition of his assistance in overthrowing the Qin Dynasty. This indicates that substantial city walls existed in Changsha more than 2,200 years ago. In 1923, during the 12th year of the Republic of China, Tan Yankai, the governor of Hunan, ordered the demolition of the ancient city walls of Tianxin Pavilion to build a ring road around the city. However, a group of scholars, led by the head of the municipal government, Cao Dianqiu, successfully petitioned to preserve the section of the wall below Tianxin Pavilion as a cultural relic. As a result, only this section of the ancient city wall remains, serving as a historical monument for future generations. This preserved section is 251 meters long, 13.4 meters high, and 6.1 meters wide at the top.
Chonglie Gate

Chonglie Gate was constructed in 1946 to honor the soldiers who perished during the three major battles in Changsha during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Prominent figures such as Chiang Kai-shek, Chen Cheng, and Zhang Zhizhong led the fundraising efforts for its construction. The gate is designed in the style of a traditional memorial archway, made entirely of granite, measuring 8.5 meters wide and 5.9 meters high. The central couplet on Chonglie Gate reads, “Swallowing the Qiangs with Valor, Guarding the Mountains and Rivers with Courage.” The term “Qiang” refers to an ancient tribe that was closely associated with the Xiongnu and is used here metaphorically to represent the Japanese invaders.
Famous Figures Stone Carving Gallery

The Historical Figures Stone Carving Gallery features carvings of 33 historical figures who made significant contributions to Hunan, with 16 of them being natives of the province. Among them is the Yan Emperor, Shennong, who is credited with tasting hundreds of herbs and improving the lives of the people. He passed away in Hunan after accidentally ingesting a poisonous plant known as “Fire Flame Grass” (also called “Heartbreak Grass”), and his tomb is located in Yandi County, Zhuzhou, Hunan. Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi were prominent lecturers at the Yuelu Academy, one of the four great academies of ancient China, located at the foot of Yuelu Mountain in Changsha. Li Fei, who served as the governor of Changsha (then known as Tanzhou) and the pacification commissioner of Hunan during the late Southern Song Dynasty, committed suicide along with his 19 family members when he realized the city could no longer hold against the Mongol forces. Zeng Guofan, a native of Xiangxiang, Hunan, was a key figure in the Qing Dynasty’s Self-Strengthening Movement and the leader of the Xiang Army, which was crucial in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion. His writings are collected in the “Complete Works of Zeng Wenzhenggong.”
Chonglie Pavilion

The Chonglie Pavilion, originally known as the Noon Cannon Pavilion and later the National Humiliation Memorial Pavilion, has a rich history tied to the city’s past. During the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China period, the Noon Cannon Pavilion housed a brass cannon that fired three times at noon each day to signal the time, ensuring uniformity across the city. In 1929, to commemorate the victims of the Jinan Massacre on May 3rd, the cannon was removed, and the pavilion was transformed into the National Humiliation Memorial Pavilion. Inside, it featured a cement map vividly depicting the territories lost to foreign powers, intended to stir patriotic feelings among the populace. Unfortunately, this pavilion was destroyed in the Wenxi Fire.
In 1946, following the end of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Hunan Provincial Government decided to honor the soldiers who died in the Changsha battles by constructing a new pavilion on the original site of the National Humiliation Memorial Pavilion. The new pavilion, named Chonglie Pavilion, is an octagonal structure with a Xieshan-style roof supported by sixteen pillars and intricate dougong brackets. The name “Chonglie Pavilion” was personally inscribed by Chiang Kai-shek.
Vlog about Tianxin Pavilion
History of Tianxin Pavilion
Tianxin Pavilion, located in Changsha, Hunan Province, has a rich history that spans several centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty during the Wanli era (1573–1620), when it was first constructed as “Tianxing Pavilion.” Initially, it served as an observatory for star-gazing and astrological studies. The pavilion was situated on high ground, which was believed to be an auspicious location for the city’s cultural and literary prosperity. The pavilion was later renamed “Tianxin Pavilion,” reflecting its connection to the “heart of heaven,” a symbol of auspiciousness.
The earliest known records of Tianxin Pavilion can be found in the writings of Tang Yuan, the magistrate of Shanhua County, in 1613, as well as in the poem “Qiqi” by the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Li Wenzhao (1667–1731). These documents indicate the historical significance of the pavilion.
In 1654, during the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the pavilion and the surrounding city walls underwent a thorough renovation under the supervision of military commander Hong Chengchou. The pavilion was further restored in 1777, during the Qianlong reign, by the Chengnan Academy. Li Wangdu, the Hunan Education Commissioner and overseer of the “Siku Quanshu” project, wrote a detailed account of the pavilion’s reconstruction, highlighting its strategic location and its symbolic importance. The renovations elevated the pavilion’s status and made it a prominent landmark in Changsha.
In 1813, the pavilion was once again restored with funds donated by Luo Ji, the head of Chengnan Academy, and others. The pavilion played a significant role during the Taiping Rebellion in 1852, when Taiping forces, led by General Xiao Chaogui, attacked Changsha. The Qing army fortified the pavilion with cannons, turning it into a defensive stronghold. Despite the fierce battle, the Taiping forces were unable to capture the city, and General Xiao was killed in front of the pavilion. Following the battle, the city walls were repaired, and Tianxin Pavilion was expanded to include three stories and additional wings, modeled after the Wenyun Pavilion.
In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, Tianxin Pavilion became a gathering place for reformists and revolutionaries. Figures such as Tang Caichang and Qin Lishan frequently met here to discuss and promote reformist ideas. On the eve of the Xinhai Revolution, revolutionary leaders like Chen Zuoxin also used the pavilion as a venue for planning the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty.
During the early years of the Republic of China (1913–1918), young Mao Zedong, who was then a student at the First Normal School of Hunan, often visited Tianxin Pavilion for leisure and study. In 1916, the Hunan provincial government constructed the Noon Cannon Pavilion (also known as the Noon Gun Terrace) near Tianxin Pavilion to standardize timekeeping for the city’s residents. In 1924, Hunan Provincial Governor Zhao Hengti designated Tianxin Pavilion as the first public park in the province, further enhancing its significance.
Throughout the Republic era, Tianxin Pavilion underwent several renovations and expansions, including the construction of the National Humiliation Memorial Pavilion in 1929, in memory of the victims of the Jinan Incident. However, in 1938, the pavilion was destroyed in the “Wenxi Fire,” a devastating event during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Tianxin Pavilion was rebuilt and incorporated into Tianxin Park. Notable figures such as Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, and He Long visited the site. In 1983, the pavilion was reconstructed in its original style, with reinforced concrete as the primary material. The new pavilion, completed in 1984, features a three-story main pavilion and two two-story auxiliary pavilions, connected by corridors. The structure is adorned with intricate carvings, bronze bells, and stone sculptures, reflecting the architectural heritage of Changsha as a historic city of the Chu and Han dynasties.