Four-Gate Tower of Mengcheng

Four-Gate Tower of Mengcheng

Mengcheng Ancient City boasts numerous scenic spots, and the Four-Gate Tower is one of them.

The Four-Gate Tower was built at the intersection of Qingyun Street’s southern end in front of the Imperial College and Canglong Lane, standing three stories high. At that time, there were not many buildings, so it appeared very majestic. According to the *Mengcheng County Government Annals* (a lithographed edition from the 13th year of the Republic of China (1924)), this Four-Gate Tower was constructed in the late Qing Dynasty. “The construction was not completed before the fall of the Qing,” and due to the chaos of war, it was left unfinished. In the 2nd year of the Republic of China (1913), Wang Chi took office as the magistrate of Mengcheng County and began to rectify social order. “In the 3rd year (1914), order gradually returned and the market became increasingly prosperous.” As it was the early years of the Republic, with everything in need of rebuilding, Wang Chi advocated for the restoration of the Four-Gate Tower. Thus, the local people enthusiastically raised funds, and the project was completed in just three months.

The Three-story Four-Gate Tower stands over ten meters tall, featuring upturned eaves, red pillars, green tiles, and floral windows on all sides, giving it an antique charm and a resplendent beauty. The lowest level has arched gateways on all four sides resembling a city gate tower, allowing visitors to walk through the arches and cross the street. The top level of the Four-Gate Tower houses steles commemorating clean governance and long-life plaques, erected in gratitude for Magistrate Wang Chi’s initiative. The pillars are also inscribed with two pairs of couplets. One reads:

Climb yet another floor, and miles of mulberry and hemp fields stretch out before your eyes;

Spend a leisurely half-hour, and the spring flowers and birds offer fine inspiration for poetry.

The other reads:

I came amidst ruins, and after only a little development, could already hear the morning bells of Ciyi Temple and the spring rains of Qiyuan Garden;

In moments of leisure during official duties, I take a rest here with you all, and together we admire the brocade clouds over Qishan Mountain and the sailboats on the Guoshui River.

The author of the first couplet is unknown, while the second was composed by then-Magistrate Wang Chi.

After its completion, the Four-Gate Tower became a beautiful landmark in Mengcheng. On sunny days, literati often gathered here to compose poetry and enjoy refined pleasures. The 1924 *Mengcheng County Government Annals* described the scene at the time: “When you climb and look around, the whole city comes into view, with the Guoshui River meandering and Qishan Mountain stretching out. On spring and autumn holidays, it is truly a place where every sight inspires a poem.”

But the good times did not last. In the 27th year of the Republic of China (1938), when the Japanese invaded Mengcheng, the Four-Gate Tower was destroyed in the war and reduced to ruins. For many years, the people of Mengcheng hoped to rebuild the Four-Gate Tower and restore it to its former glory, but this wish was never realized. In 1993, Mr. Deng Ruichang, a native of Mengcheng residing in Taiwan, returned to his hometown for a family visit and voluntarily offered to fund the restoration of the Four-Gate Tower. His proposal received support and praise from the county Party committee, the county government, and the general public. Mr. Deng made three round trips between Mengcheng and Taiwan. Despite being in his seventies and undeterred by the hardship, he traveled thousands of miles—his dedication was deeply moving.

The new Four-Gate Tower was founded in October 1994 and completed in the autumn of 1995. It has a brick-concrete frame structure, with upturned eaves, layered brackets, red pillars, and three stories, standing twelve meters tall. The building covers an area of over eighty square meters, cost a total of 400,000 yuan, and is still located at the southern end of Qingyun Street, on the north side of Bao Ta Park, facing the Imperial College across the way and complementing the Wanfo Pagoda beautifully.