Mao Tower

Mao Tower

Mao Tower is a cultural heritage site protected at the municipal level in Shanghai.

Mao Tower (MaoTa) is located on a small islet in the Mao River, southeast of Shenxiang Town, Qingpu County. It is an ancient pagoda in the Sanmao area, situated on a small islet in the Mao River, within Zhangma Village, Shenxiang Town. In ancient times, this area was the center of the Mao Lake, which had “three hundred li of broken shores.” The Mao Tower is a brick-and-wood structure, with five levels and four sides, standing 29 meters tall and measuring 8.63 meters per side. It has a square floor plan, five stories, and features neat and simple architectural craftsmanship, reflecting the characteristics and style of Tang Dynasty pagodas. In those days, the lake surface was vast, and passing boats used this tower as a navigational marker. At night, a lantern hung from the top of the tower, further aiding nighttime navigation. With the broad lake surface, shimmering reflections, and the pagoda’s silhouette mirrored in the water, it created a truly picturesque scene.

After the Ming and Qing dynasties, due to changes in the lake and repeated damage from warfare, most of the structures were destroyed, leaving only the Mao Tower. By the time of liberation, only the tower remained, still standing in the water. Today, peach blossoms are planted around the tower, creating a sea of rosy hues in spring that adds a unique rural charm. The tower has a simple structure and retains the style of the Tang Dynasty. It is the oldest existing pagoda in Shanghai that maintains its original construction period. In 1962, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage site. In 1995, the Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Management Committee carried out restoration work on the Mao Tower.

In March 1959, it was designated as a cultural heritage site at the Qingpu County level, and in September 1962, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage site in Shanghai. The Mao Tower, which had completely lost its function as a navigational marker, was renovated by the Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Management Committee in 1995, restoring its former glory as a Tang-style pagoda. Managed by the Shanghai Maritime Bureau’s Aids to Navigation Office, the Mao Islet was renamed “Sun Island” and developed as the Shanghai Sun Island International Club in Zhangma Village, Shenxiang Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai, thus becoming a scenic attraction in the city once again. In 1962, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage site.