The dragon and the phoenix serve in classical art and literature as metaphors for people of high virtue and rare talent. Together, the two symbolize happiness and love in marriages. As an important part of folk art, dragon lanterns, dragon boats, dragon and phoenix dances are still highly popular during Chinese festivals. But all pavilions have columns for support and no walls. In parks or in scenic places, pavilions are built on slopes to command the panorama or they are built by the lakeside to create intriguing images by the water.
Pavilions also serve diverse purposes.
Pavilions also stand by bridges or over water-wells. In the latter case, dormer windows are built to allow the sun to cast its rays into the well as it has been the belief that water untouched by the sun would cause disease. Occasionally one finds two pavilions standing side by side like twins. In modern times, kiosks have been erected in urban areas as postal stalls, newsstands or photographers' sheds for snapshot services. Rare among pavilions are those built of bronze.