Wenlan Pavilion is a famous imperial library for enshrining The Si Ku Quan Shu in Qing Dynasty that maintains coexistence of book and pavilion in our country. It is a unique witness of Chinese historic book-collection culture tradition and is one of the material evidences that show the rich culture of West Lake landscape.

The Pavilion, first built in the year 49 of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1784 A.D.), is one of the 7 government libraries constructed in the range of the whole country for enshrining The Si Ku Quan Shu during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and also the only existent one among Jiangnan Three Pavilions.

The Si Ku Quan Shu, compiled in the 18th century, is the existing biggest officially-compiled series of books of ancient China. With comprehensive contents, rigorous stylistic rules and layout and numerous books, it has played an irreplaceable important part in inheriting Chinese culture. Wenlan Pavilion is located in the south slope of butte on north of West Lake and is built at the back of Hall of Buddhist Texts of temporary imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty.

Wenlan Pavilion is located in the north of courtyard. There is a pond in front of it, the pavilion of imperial tablet in east of it and the veranda in west of it. Designed in typical architectural style of Jiangnan pavilions, Wenlan Pavilion’s building appearance is the two-layer timber-framed pavilion of double slope tops of flush gable roof. It has a total area of 852m².

（Source: Official Website of Scenic Spots）