The First Tower in the Clouds

The First Tower in the Clouds

The First Tower in the Clouds is a cultural relic protection unit of Songjiang District.

The First Tower in the Clouds is located at No. 250 Zhongshan East Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai. Originally the drum tower of the Songjiang Prefecture government office, its remaining base and wall fragments can now be found at the entrance of Songjiang No. 2 Middle School.

The building features China’s traditional double-eave hip-and-gable roof style, with a five-bay-wide structure fully upheld by pillars. The tower stands prominently, measuring 24.8 meters in width, 10.10 meters in depth, and approximately 16 meters in height—quite a spectacular sight. The central lower section serves as a grand gateway, with the door opening spanning 5.1 meters. The ancient tower is constructed with clear-water bricks, featuring upturned eaves and an elegant, classic charm reminiscent of the pavilion-style architecture depicted in Zhang Zeduan’s “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” from the Song Dynasty. It is one of only two surviving beam-column style drum towers nationwide from the early post-liberation period.

During the Anti-Japanese War, the First Tower in the Clouds was damaged by Japanese forces, leaving only ruins. It was later destroyed by a typhoon in 1951, with only broken bricks, debris, and the base remaining. In the late 20th century, a replica of the tower was reconstructed. In 1985, the First Tower in the Clouds was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Songjiang County.

Transportation

Accessible via the Shanghai–Songjiang Special Line or Songjiang Route 11

Location

North side of Songjiang Science and Technology Museum, Zhongshan East Road, Zhongshan Subdistrict, Songjiang District, Shanghai