PLACE GUIDE

Piyun House 披云楼

Piyun Lou

Piyun Tower rises above the northern section of Zhaoqing’s old city wall.

Piyun Tower, Zhaoqing · 肇庆披云楼
Piyun Tower, Zhaoqing · 肇庆披云楼 Photograph date recorded by the source: 18 February 2026, 10:51:43. · Yumeto · Yumeto — 20260218_Piyun_Lou_(105143).jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Explore the region

Guangdong · 广东省 →Zhaoqing · 肇庆市 →

About Piyun House

The present three-storey building is a modern reconstruction in a historical architectural style, rather than an untouched Song tower. Its projecting rooflines and bracketed structure are best considered together with the wall beneath it. Compare the elevated pavilion with the lower brick defences, then follow whichever nearby wall section is open to appreciate its relationship with the old streets.

Piyun Tower stands on the Zhaoqing Ancient City Wall (肇庆古城墙) in Duancheng District, Zhaoqing, which is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位); the tower was first built in the Zhenghe era (政和) of the Song dynasty. Because it rises from the highest point of the north wall, appearing to pierce the clouds, it was named Piyun, meaning cloud-piercing. The tower has been rebuilt or repaired eight times; the original three-storey timber structure was reduced to two storeys during the Republic of China period, and it was rebuilt again on the same site in 1986 after falling into disrepair.

The tower rebuilt in 1986 again rises three storeys, with a total height of 19.3 meters and a floor area of about 300 square meters. Its design drew on the Tengwang Pavilion (滕王阁) in Nanchang, the Yellow Crane Tower (黄鹤楼) in Wuhan and the Feiyun Tower (飞云楼) in Wanrong, Shanxi, and it was built with a reinforced-concrete structure imitating timber framing, using the bracket-set style of the Zhenwu Pavilion (真武阁) in Rongxian, Guangxi. It is roofed with orange-red glazed tiles and topped with a cross-shaped gable design.

What to look for

  • The three-storey reconstructed tower has layered rooflines and traditional-style brackets.
  • Its position on the old city wall reveals the relationship between a lookout and the surrounding defences.

Location & getting there

Getting to Piyun House

Approach the northern old-city wall west of Renmin Road in Duanzhou. Use the signed Piyun Tower access rather than Seven Star Crags; the tower belongs to the urban wall, not the lakeside scenic area.

General visit reminders

Choose the building, exhibition or part of the historic area you most want to see, then leave time to explore its setting. Check the venue’s current opening and reservation arrangements directly; a place appearing on the map does not mean every building or gallery is accessible on your travel date.

Combine your visit

Suggested order for the visit:

  1. Tower exterior

    See the roofline above the wall.

  2. Permitted tower or wall access

    Examine the construction from the visitor route.

  3. Nearby open wall section

    Compare the defences with the streets below.

This is an editorial sequence of named spaces or places. It does not imply a verified walking connection or promise opening, ticket availability or a journey time.

AI illustration: A close medium view from the walking surface of an old Chinese defensive wall, worn brick paving.
AI illustration · AI 示意图（景观类型参考，非实拍） · 城墙垛口与砖阶 — A general visiting detail, not an exact view of this place.
Historic sites & architecture · 历史古迹／建筑 →

Find Piyun House

披云楼 · 肇庆市

Amap · 高德地图Approximate pin · 近似位置Apple Maps · 苹果地图

The pin marks the area, not the entrance.

More places nearby

Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.

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Dinghu Mountain 鼎湖山

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Mount Xiqiao 西樵山

55 km away

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Sources & visit information

The sources below support the place-specific description and arrival information. Suggested combinations are editorial planning ideas; confirm current opening, entry arrangements and transport services for your date.

Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikivoyage contributors, Zhaoqing · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 5261075.

Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "披云楼", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 91620300.

China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-10-07