Chengkan is a treasure house of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the Baolun Pavilion, an ancient temple in the village, is undoubtedly a shining pearl in this treasure house.
Baolun Pavilion, formerly known as "Zhenjing Luo Dongshu Temple", is now a national key cultural relics protection unit. It was first built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (about 1542). The apse was almost completed, but it was abandoned due to trouble and was re-expanded seventy years later.
The ancient temple covers an area of ??more than five acres and is divided into three entrances: front, middle and back. It has five-story gables that rise layer by layer, making it appear majestic and majestic. The first entrance is the Yimen. Inside the Yimen is an eight-foot-square patio with verandahs on both sides. The second entrance is the hall. Six square stone pillars stand majestically in front. Behind the stone pillars are twenty-four large log pillars. The pillar is so big that it is difficult for one person to hug it. The purlin beams above overlap and are crisscrossed horizontally. The winter melon beam in the middle is thick and solemn. There is also a plaque hanging on the hall with the four characters "Yilun Yousu" written by Dong Qichang, a famous calligrapher in the Ming Dynasty. Behind the tall panel door in the hall is another patio, and the third room behind it is the Baolun Pavilion.
Baolun Pavilion is the highlight of the entire ancestral hall. According to legend, Luo Yinghe, who continued to build this ancestral hall, served as the supervisory envoy and the prime minister of Dali Temple during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and won the trust of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty. Luo "built it as a pavilion - Dai Enlun", so it was named "Baolun Pavilion". Later, it became a convention to call the entire ancestral hall "Baolun Pavilion".
Baolun Pavilion consists of three three-bays, plus the stairwells at both ends, with eleven bays at the end. The "Baolun Pavilion" plaque written by Wu Shihong hangs high on the eaves of the building. The patio and the building are separated by Yixian bluestone railings, which are decorated with flowers, plants and geometric patterns in relief. The pillar heads of the three steps and handrails are decorated with relief stone lions. On the steps, ten stone pillars facing inward and forming an arc stand at the front, and dozens of columns stand behind them, setting up criss-crossing moon beams. The dome-shaped roof and flying eaves, the cloud sculptures between the beams and columns, the hollow beam head replacement wood and child pillars, and the lotus holder wood carvings are dazzling and beautiful. The painted patterns on the beams are beautiful and colorful. Even though they have lasted for more than 400 years, they are still bright and eye-catching.
On the left and right sides of Baolun Pavilion are stairs for climbing the stairs. Ascending the thirty wooden steps, you can see neatly arranged round wooden columns on the upper floor. The roof pavilion grille is exposed and decorated with water-polished blue bricks. In addition, it is the highest point in Chengkan Village, where you can overlook the smoke and clouds of Huangshan Tiandu and Lotus Peaks.
With its ingenious structure, exquisite carvings, and gorgeous paintings, Baolun Pavilion integrates antiquity, elegance, majesty, and beauty. It can be called a masterpiece of ancient architecture in the Ming Dynasty.
After visiting and inspecting, architectural experts and professors from the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Culture and many colleges and universities believe that Chengkan Village has unique characteristics, whether from the overall skyline of the village or from the outline of a single building. The unique style of the cultural ancient villages of the Ming and Qing Dynasties is of great value to the study of ancient architectural history, architectural design, construction technology and architectural art, as well as the rise of ancient Huizhou villages, clan systems, folk customs, culture and art.