Lucheng Bell Tower

Lucheng Bell Tower

The Lucheng Bell Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Bell Tower (including the former site of the prefectural government). Commonly known as the Drum Tower, it is located at the intersection of Gulou Street and Gong’an Road. The Bell Tower is the only remaining structure of Wenzhou’s inner city. In August 1994, it was restored to its original appearance, covering an area of 356 square meters. The Bell Tower was built on the city wall of the Qian family’s inner city during the Five Dynasties period. The surviving section of the city wall is about 60 meters long, 5.22 meters high, 14 meters wide at the top, and 15 meters wide at the base. Its structure consists of granite slabs laid in alternating courses vertically and horizontally for the north and south sections, with rammed earth in the middle. The gate tunnel features a brick barrel vault, and granite barriers stand on both the north and south sides of the wall top.

The tower is a two-story, five-bay wooden structure with a hip-and-gable roof, featuring a depth of four bays. The central bays on both the north and south sides have ten official-style lattice windows each. The roof framework uses a post-and-lintel system without bracket sets. A wooden double-flight staircase is located on the south side of the east secondary bay, leading to the second floor. Both floors have corridors on all four sides. The roof is covered with green tiles, complete with drip tiles, and the ridge ends are adorned with fish-dragon ornaments. The four corner hips employ the “tender brace upturn” method.

The Bell Tower was constructed by Qian Chuanxi (887–941), the seventh son of Qian Liu, King of Wuyue during the Five Dynasties, during his tenure as Prefect of Wenzhou. At that time, it served as the southern gate of Wenzhou’s inner city. It fell into disuse during the Yuan Dynasty, leaving only the Bell Tower. It was destroyed during the military conflicts of the Shunzhi era in the Qing Dynasty but was rebuilt in the 12th year of the Kangxi reign (1673). Repairs were carried out during the Yongzheng, Qianlong, and Daoguang reigns. In 1928, it was converted into a public education center. In 1981, the Bell Tower was designated as one of the first municipal-level cultural relic protection units in Wenzhou. In August 2005, the former site of the prefectural government was added to the protected area.

Protection Level: Provincial-level Cultural Relic Protection Unit

Period: Republican Era

Category: Important Modern Historical Sites and Representative Buildings

Protected Area: To the east, bounded by existing buildings on the east side of the heritage site boundary line; to the south, bounded by the sidewalk edge on the south side of Gulou Street; to the west, bounded by existing buildings approximately 46 meters from the heritage site; to the north, bounded by the alley between the heritage site and the buildings to the north.

Building Control Zone: The eastern boundary line (from Guangchang Road Primary School to Guangchang Road section) is bounded by the alley on the west side of New World Plaza; the eastern boundary line (from Guangchang Road to Gulou Street section) is bounded by Chunhua Alley; the eastern boundary line (from Gulou Street to Yan Gongdian Alley section) is bounded by the existing alley on the east side of Bailu Hotel; the eastern boundary line (from Yan Gongdian Alley to Wuma Street section) is bounded by Yan Gongdian Alley No. 75 and buildings along Gong’an Road. The western boundary line (from Guangchang Road Primary School to Gulou Street section) is bounded by the street alley outside the east wall of Wenzhou Medical University Affiliated Stomatological Hospital; the western boundary line (from Gulou Street to Wuma Street section) is bounded by buildings along the west side of Gong’an Road. To the south, bounded by Wuma Street; to the north, bounded by the teaching building of Guangchang Road Primary School, approximately 45 meters from the heritage site.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units