Peony Pavilion construction begins

Construction has started on the Peony Pavilion which has been gifted to Stratford-on-Avon District Council from the People's Government of Fuzhou Municipality in China, to continue and enhance the China-UK cultural exchange.  

The pavilion has been specially commissioned and arrived in the UK last week, accompanied by a team of skilled Chinese craftsmen.  

The craftsmen arrived in Stratford-upon-Avon at the end of last week and began working on the pavilion last Friday.  

The pavilion is expected to be complete by the end of March and will be officially opened during the Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations weekend in April.  

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: "We feel honoured to have received such a generous gift and we are confident the it will be appreciated by most people in Stratford-upon-Avon as a clear symbol of the international standing of the town."

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.