Huaxi Golden Tower

Huaxi Golden Tower

The Huaxi Golden Tower is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huaxi Village in Jiangsu Province is a textbook example of mainland China's wealthiest villages. Its entrepreneurial history is nothing short of legendary: when the village was established in 1961, its collective savings totaled just 1,764 yuan, per capita distribution was 53 yuan, daily grain rations averaged half a jin (250 grams), and villagers survived on edible amaranth. The Huaxi Golden Tower refers to a tower located in the center of Huaxi Village in Jiangsu Province, which is the village’s iconic building. The “Huaxi Golden Tower” is hailed as the “No. 1 Tower under Heaven” and combines dining, a hotel, shopping mall, guest reception, and sightseeing all in one. The village where the Huaxi Golden Tower is located—Huaxi Village—is even more widely known across the country as the “No. 1 Village under Heaven” and is regarded as a flagship model for the construction of a new socialist countryside. In 2001, the industrial and commercial sales revenue of Huaxi Village reached 4.5 billion yuan, the poorest household had bank deposits of over 500,000 yuan, the richest had over 5 million yuan, every family lived in an average villa of 500 square meters, and each household owned at least one car.

In the middle of the village stands a tower—that is the iconic “Huaxi Golden Tower.” Upon entering the tower, you’re greeted by calligraphy inscribed by national leaders: “No. 1 Tower under Heaven.” That’s when you realize the Huaxi Tower combines dining, a hotel, shopping mall, guest reception, and sightseeing. I was assigned to stay at the hotel on the seventh floor. From the window, I looked out over the entire village and spotted pavilions shaped like goats, water buffaloes, and turtles scattered throughout. Their rustic designs were simple and charming—as Wu Renbao put it, Huaxi Village is a place that’s neither overly rustic nor overly modern. The hotel facilities are straightforward and practical, with no ostentatious luxury.

The top floor of the Huaxi Golden Tower is an observation deck, with walls covered in photos and calligraphy from visits by central government leaders. Some tourists take photos in front of the giant characters “Huaxi Golden Tower,” inscribed by the former Chairman. At the tower’s summit, there are also four gleaming golden statues representing “Fortune, Prosperity, Longevity, and Happiness,” and the descriptions next to the statues are quite amusing.

Address: Jinta Road, Huaxi Village, Jiangyin City, Wuxi

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Ticket information:

No ticket required. The ticket price for Huaxi Village (150 yuan) includes entry here.

Huashi Town: a town under the jurisdiction of Jiangyin City. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was a local cotton market, once called Huashi. In 1949, it was named Huashu Town; in 1957, Huashu Township was established; in 1958, it became a commune; in 1962, it reverted to being Huashu Town; in 1965, it was renamed Huashi Town; in 1984, it became a township again; and in 1985, it was re-established as a town. Located in the southeastern part of the city, it is 25 kilometers from downtown Jiangyin and 46 kilometers from downtown Wuxi. The town covers an area of 46 square kilometers and has a population of 58,000. Chenglu Highway runs east-west through the town, connecting to Hualu Highway and Huaxi Highway, while the Qinqing River flows east-west through the center of the town. The town administers Huaxi, Xiangyang, Huashi, Huaming... More detailed information about Huashi Town++