The Xiaocanglangting is located in the Tie Gong Memorial Temple courtyard. It was built in the 57th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign in the Qing Dynasty and is modeled after the style of the Canglangting in Suzhou. The two characters ‘Canglang’ are taken from the allusion in ‘Fisherman’ in ‘Songs of Chu’: ‘When the water of Canglang is clear, it can wash my hat ribbons; when the water of Canglang is turbid, it can wash my feet.
‘ It is named so because its scale is smaller than that of the Canglangting in Suzhou, hence the name ‘Xiaocanglangting’. The Xiaocanglangting faces south. The plaque was inscribed by Jueluo Chong’en, governor of Shandong Province. Half of it is immersed in water. Around the pavilion, there are lotus ponds on three sides and willow waves on four sides. There are small bridges over flowing water and lotus flowers emitting fragrance. To the south of the pavilion is a long corridor running east-west. By using the borrowing scenery technique, the lake and mountain scenery is introduced into the courtyard. Its design style is unique and ingenious. In ancient times, the Xiaocanglangting was a famous place for people to enjoy tea and chant poetry. The unique scenery has attracted scholars and guests of all dynasties to come here to enjoy the cool, admire the lotus, drink wine and compose poems, leaving many popular quatrains. The most famous one is the stone couplet embedded on both sides of the circular cave door on the west corridor wall: ‘Lotus on four sides and willows on three sides; mountain scenery of one city and half city is lake.’ It is a famous couplet that describes the style and features of the ancient city of Jinan so far. The couplet was written by Liu Fenggao, inspector of education and historian of Shandong Province during the Jiajing period of the Qing Dynasty, and inscribed by Tie Bao, governor of Shandong Province and a great calligrapher. Opening hours: Open from 09:00 to 21:00 all year round.
