亭子在中国的历史十分悠久,但古代最早的亭并不是供观赏用的建筑。如周代的亭,是设在边防要塞的小堡垒,设有亭吏。到了秦汉,亭的建筑扩大到各地,成为地方维护治安的基层组织所使用。《汉书》记载:“亭有两卒,一为亭父,掌开闭扫除;一为求盗,掌逐捕盗贼。”魏晋南北朝时,代替亭制而起的是驿。之后,亭和驿逐渐废弃。但民间却有在交通要道筑亭为旅途歇息之用的习俗,因而沿用下来。也有的作为迎宾送客的礼仪场所,一般是十里或五里设置一个,十里为长亭,五里为短亭。同时,亭作为点景建筑,开始出现在园林之中。 Pavilion in China has a long history, but the earliest ancient kiosk is not for viewing architecture. Such as Zhou Ting, is located in the border fortress of the small fort, with pavilion officials. In the Qin and Han dynasties, the pavilions were expanded to various places and used by local grass-roots organizations that maintain local law and order. “Han” records: “Pavilion has two pawns, one pavilion father, palm open and close to remove; one for the theft, palm capture thieves.” "Wei Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties, instead of the kiosks is the station. After that, the pavilion and station gradually abandoned. However, there are civilians in the traffic arteries built for kiosks for rest, and therefore down. There are also some as a place of hospitality to send etiquette, the general is to set a mile or five, ten miles for the Pavilion, Wuli short kiosk. At the same time, pavilion as a point of view architecture, began to appear in the garden.