Jiaxiu Tower 甲秀楼

About Jiaxiu Tower

The bridge’s Hanbi Pavilion and the nearby Cuiwei Garden turn the tower into a short sequence of waterside architecture. Look first from the riverbank to see the whole composition, then move towards the bridge for the changing relationship between water, stone and timber. Interior access is separate from enjoying the exterior and river views.

The tower was first built in 1597, during the Wanli era (万历) of the Ming dynasty, when Guizhou governor Jiang Dongzhi (江东之) built a dike linking Aoji Rock (鳌矶石) to the south bank of the Nanming River (南明河) and raised a tower named 'Jiaxiu' for the hope of examination success. It burned down in 1621 and was rebuilt by governor-general Zhu Xieyuan (朱燮元) under the name 'Laifeng Ge' (来凤阁); governor Tian Wen (田雯) rebuilt it again in 1689 and restored its original name. The tower was rebuilt once more in 1909, the form that stands today.

In the Qing dynasty, 'Aoji Fuyu' (鳌矾浮玉) was named one of the eight scenic sights of Guiyang. On 25 May 2006 the State Council approved the tower's inclusion, as a Ming-dynasty building, in the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位). The tower houses numerous stone and wood carvings and works of calligraphy and painting, including a long couplet by the Guiyang scholar Liu Yunliang (刘韫良), ranked alongside similar long couplets at Kunming's Daguan Tower and Chengdu's Wangjiang Tower.

What to look for

• Jiaxiu Tower stands above the river on its rock foundation.
• Fuyu Bridge and Hanbi Pavilion frame the approach to the tower.

The surrounding area

A food-and-city chapter with contemporary cafés, local snacks and river walks.

Location & getting there

Getting to Jiaxiu Tower

Use 8 Cuiwei Lane, Nanming District, as the arrival address. Approach the tower through the riverbank and Fuyu Bridge area, following any current controls on access to the buildings.