Peony Pavilion construction complete

This article is 5 years old

Press Release

Published on 26 March 2019
Archived on 26 April 2019


Construction on the Peony Pavilion, the gift to Stratford-on-Avon District Council from the People's Government of Fuzhou Municipality in China, has been completed ahead of programme.

The specially commissioned pavilion has been expertly built by a team of highly skilled Chinese craftsmen, over the last three weeks, supported by local contractor, Edward Brain & Sons Ltd who built the foundations and supplied plant and materials.  

Fourteen crates containing all the different components for the pavilion and the hand tools used for the construction were shipped over from China in February for this project.   

The Peony Pavilion is made up of lots of intricate details using a variety of materials including timber, stone, clay, slate and some intricate wood carvings.

To accompany the Peony Pavilion there is an 'Inscription of Peony Pavilion' - detailing the most popular works of Tang Xianzu, which depicts the affectionate romance between Du Liniang and Lui Mengmei whose love story has been passed down for more than 400 years with Peony Pavilion considered as a token of love.

The site fencing will remain in place while the finishing touches to the area are completed ahead of the official opening on Friday 26 April as part of the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations Weekend.

Background information

The pavilion marks the latest link between Stratford and the Fuzhou Municipality in a collaboration that aims to strengthen ties between the district and China. Councillors are looking to build on the cultural partnership to boost trade and investment links and strengthen the local economy.

Key to the cultural partnership is Sanweng Town, a new cultural attraction being built 14km from Fuzhou, which will celebrate the lives and works of William Shakespeare, Tang Xianzu and Miguel de Cervantes. Sanweng will feature reconstructions of some of the hometowns of each artist.

The attraction aims to celebrate the achievements of Tang Xianzu, Shakespeare and Cervantes, who all passed away in the same year 1616.


Contact details

Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Elizabeth House, Church Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire,
CV37 6HX
Tel: 01789 267575

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Last updated on 26/03/2019