Changwen Tower

Changwen Tower

Changwen Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

Changwen Tower is located on Meizhi Mountain (also known as Ma’an Mountain) behind Huahua Temple in Anwen Town, Pan’an County. Built in June of the 35th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1607 AD), it has withstood the test of time and remains standing firmly to this day. The construction was funded by donations from the Chen family of Anwen. It is a feng shui tower, erected with the intention of bringing prosperity to Anwen—hence the name “Changwen,” meaning “Prosperity of Culture.” It is now a key cultural relic protection unit at the county level.

The tower stands 43.68 meters tall with a circumference of 24.68 meters and walls 1.5 meters thick. Its foundation is built with strip stones, while the walls are constructed from specially made green bricks, sealed with lime mortar and coated externally with lime plaster. It is a hexagonal, seven-story hollow brick pagoda in the pavilion style. Each floor is connected by beams supporting wooden flooring, accessible via a spiral staircase leading to the top. The outer wall between the second and upper floors features corbelled eaves created with dentil-like bricks, with upturned eaves that give the structure a majestic and spectacular appearance. Each level has three arched windows offering views for visitors. At the top sits an iron gourd adorned with a dragon-fork finial, believed to “calm the winds and ward off lightning.” From the tower, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Duxiu Mountain, Huatai, Luofeng, and Xishan, while looking down at both banks of the Wenxi River reveals a skyline of high-rises and a vibrant atmosphere. The Ming scholar Chen Shifang wrote in his poem “Climbing Changwen Tower”: “Ascending the steps and leaning on the rail, the view dazzles the eye; / A thousand acres of plains where wheat has just turned even. / Suddenly the towering heights make the heavens seem near, / While the wind’s whisper warns the surrounding peaks to stay low. / Gazing back, the sweeping view overshadows Duxiu’s peak; / Soaring high, the tower’s proud form dwarfs the twin streams below. / Such a spiritually blessed land surely fosters exceptional people; / Under the azure sky, glory shines bright—do not dismiss it so.”

Source: Official Website of the Jinhua Municipal People's Government of China

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Zhejiang Province