Tianzhang Tower

Tianzhang Tower

Located atop Xiemu Mountain in the urban area of Shengzhou, commonly known as Huatian Tower, it is a feng shui tower of Shengzhou, situated about 2 kilometers from the city. The name "Tianzhang" means "heavenly manifestation," believed to enhance the literary culture of the entire county and influence the rise and fall of its imperial examination success. There used to be a Tianzhang Pavilion here, built during the Ming Dynasty by County Magistrate Wen Dianzhang. Over time, the pavilion fell into disrepair. In the 38th year of the Qianlong reign (1773), Instructor Li Zeng initiated donations to build a tower on its site, still named "Tianzhang." "The local gentry, including Zhou Guangwei, oversaw the project. The tower has seven stories in total." Tianzhang Tower is a brick-built pavilion-style structure, currently six stories remain, standing 19 meters tall with a regular hexagonal floor plan. The ground floor has a west-facing entrance, and windows are installed on the upper levels. Inside the tower, there is a stone stele from the 13th year of the Tongzhi reign in the Qing Dynasty (1874) inscribed with the "Official Notice by Magistrate Lin," which states a prohibition: "Within ten li of the circumference of Tianzhang Tower Mountain, the establishment of kilns is permanently forbidden, and digging around the front, back, left, and right of the tower is also permanently forbidden." The tower is now a cultural relic protection unit of Shengzhou City.

Location

Chengguan Town, Shengzhou City, Zhejiang Province