Shengqi Tower

Shengqi Tower

Shengqi Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanjing.

Shengqi Tower

Shengqi Tower is the main attraction within Mochou Lake. It is a historical building in the Ming and Qing architectural style, featuring two floors with dignified grey-brick and small-tile construction, exquisitely crafted. Originally built during the Hongwu era of the early Ming Dynasty, it was reconstructed in 1871. The tower was once a regular chess-playing site for Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, and his founding hero, Zhongshan King Xu Da. Xu Da was highly skilled at chess but often lost. Emperor Zhu was well aware of the reason behind this. One day, as they played again, the emperor asked Xu Da to play without holding back. When the game ended, Xu Da said:

"Your Majesty, please take a closer look at the whole board." Upon examining it carefully, Zhu Yuanzhang noticed that Xu Da had arranged the chess pieces to form the characters “万岁” (meaning “Long Live [the Emperor]”).

Deeply impressed by Xu Da’s exceptional skill, and pleased by the gesture, Zhu Yuanzhang generously bestowed both the tower and the Mochou Lake garden to Xu Da. Later generations named the tower Shengqi Tower (Tower of Victory in Chess). The plaque above the door, inscribed with the words “Shengqi Tower,” features bold and vigorous calligraphy, personally written by Mei Qi, the top scholar of the Qing Dynasty.

Inside the tower, there are currently on display the chess table used by Zhu Yuanzhang and Xu Da, their portraits, replicas of dragon robes and attire, antique jade artifacts, and hundreds of ivory-carved Ming and Qing redwood furniture pieces, considered among the finest in Jinling (Nanjing).

Climbing to the top of the tower offers a distant view of the dragon-like coils of Zhongshan Mountain and the tiger-like crouch of Stone City, while also providing a panoramic view of the central pavilion on the lake, the full expanse of the lake scenery, with shimmering waves and drifting clouds all in sight — a truly uplifting experience.