Qingchuan Tower
Another one of the Ming Dynasty legacies, Qingchuan Tower, which is also known as Qingchuan Pavilion, is situated on the eastern side of Gui Hill, north of the Changjiang River, on Yugongji and it forms just one quarter of what was once known as the "Four Famous Towers of Chu State".
There is no shortage of history as far as the Qingchuan Tower goes, and the attraction as it stands today was originally erected in memory of the legendary hero Yu, who alleviated the river floods.
The current tower, as it stands today, was last rebuilt in 1983, after the latest of a series of natural disasters and political events destroyed it in 1934, when a very strong wind sent it crashing down and it has been rebuilt many times before then as well.
In what is turning out to be somewhat of a trend, the new Qingchuan Tower, which was stationed at the foot of Turtle Hill, was completed within a very short time frame of about one to two years, adding to the many attractions which stand beside the Yangtze River.
Highlights
The main Qingchuan Tower building, which lies on the northeastern side of the Yuwang Temple is possibly the main attraction of any trip to the area, with its allure maintained in the original architectural style of the times when it was first constructed, with tower's main body rising up to 18 metres into the sky.
In addition to the visual appeal of the infrastructure itself, what is not to be missed is the in-house collection of a number of cultural relics as well as some inscribed tablets, complemented by paintings done by modern and ancient artists -- something which is enjoyed by the locals as well, since it brings back some memories of times gone by.
The statue of Dayu is also something not to be missed, although it would admittedly be hard to miss since it is just about the very first thing seen upon your entry into the temple and the Tracks of Yu inscribed map is also something of particular interest.
Entrance Fees: 15 Yuan
How to Get There
Ten busses service the area leading up to the temple, so getting there shouldn't be a problem, just take bus numbers 30, 45, 108, 401, 402, 531, 559, 560, 571 and 803.
Operating Time: 09:00 - 17:00
