Ancient Lute Terrace

Ancient Lute Terrace, also named Boya Terrace, is located to the south bank of Moon Lake, western foot of Tortoise Hill.

A legend has it that a famous musician in Chu kingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 B.C.), Yu Boya, once was stranded here by a sudden heavy rain. When it cleared up, Yu Boya played a piece of music. A woodcutter, Zhong Ziqi, heard his music and understood quite well the message conveyed in the music - high mountains and flowing water. Thus the two became good friends. When Ziqi died one year later, Yu Boya, knowing there would be no one else to appreciate the beauty of his music, smashed his lute in grief and never again played music. Thus Ancient Lute Terrace was built in the Northern Song dynasty to memorize their friendship.

Ancient Lute Terrace experienced several destroys and rebuilds and the present one was the result of construction in 1957. The whole complex, although small in size, is elegant in layout and demarcated in arrangement. A platform by the waterside in front of a wide hall is said to be the place where Yu Boya played lute. A two-meter-high stele was set in the center of the courtyard, with image of Boya engraved on one side.