Xinghua Four-Gate Tower

Xinghua Four-Gate Tower

The Xinghua Four-Gate Tower is a cultural heritage site protected by the Xinghua Municipal Government.

The Four-Gate Tower is located in Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province. Inside, there are layers of calligraphy plaques in various sizes and styles. The works of 47 contemporary calligraphy masters such as Qi Gong, Sha Menghai, and Zhao Puchu shine alongside one another, creating an overwhelming visual feast. That such a small structure could attract so many distinguished artists speaks volumes about its cultural significance.

The Four-Gate Tower was originally built during the Ming Dynasty. It houses plaques awarded to local Xinghua figures—filial sons, virtuous officials, and meritorious statesmen—from the Song Dynasty to the early years of the Republic of China. These plaques were displayed for local people to admire and learn from. Most of them were personally inscribed or bestowed by the rulers of the time. Preserving them to this day is no small feat. Unfortunately, during the Cultural Revolution, the tower was destroyed and the plaques were scattered.

In the 1980s, Xinghua City renovated the Four-Gate Tower, largely restoring it to its original appearance. The rebuilt structure covers nearly twice the area of the historical version. Seven of the original plaques were also collected from the public, although their inscriptions had become too faded to be recognizable. Fortunately, the most symbolic feature at the top of the tower—the “Five Sacred Mountains Facing Heaven” decoration—remains an original relic.

Location

Pailou Road, Xinghua City, Taizhou, Jiangsu Province