Phoenix Lake Juyuan Tower Scenic Area

Phoenix Lake Juyuan Tower Scenic Area

Located within the Phoenix Lake Scenic Area, Juyuan Tower sits on the ancient Longshan Mountain by Phoenix Lake in the suburbs of Dexing City, just 3 kilometers from the city center. A tourist mountain-loop road connected to Tongdu Avenue in the Nanguan New District leads directly to the center of the scenic area, making transportation very convenient. Juyuan Tower combines “leisure, entertainment, and culture.” The tower was first built in the second year of the Xining era of the Song Dynasty (1069) by Yu Shilong, a native of Dexing. At that time, the county magistrate Shan Xi named it Juyuan Tower, meaning “Gathering the Distant View.” In the seventh year of the Yuanfeng era (1084), the great literary master Su Dongpo visited the tower and composed a poem when sending his eldest son, Su Mai, to take up the post of county magistrate in Dexing: “Amid clouds, mountains, mist, and waters, intimacy is hard to find; Wild grasses and secluded blooms each bloom in their own spring. Thankfully, this lofty tower gathers the distant views, Bringing them all together for leisurely folk to enjoy.” In the Jianyan era (1127), Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, impressed by Su Dongpo’s poem, bestowed a golden plaque upon the tower, which greatly enhanced its fame, earning it the reputation as the “Famous Tower of the South.” Over the centuries, Juyuan Tower endured wind and rain but was eventually destroyed in the late Qing Dynasty. In December 2003, responding to public demand, the tower was rebuilt, and the Juyuan Tower Scenic Area was established. The central attractions of the scenic area include Juyuan Tower, a three-tiered, hip-and-gable roof-style, Song Dynasty-style ancient building covering an area of 637.87 square meters, with a total height of 29 meters. Though it appears to have three floors externally, it actually contains six levels inside. Each floor features large relief murals that depict condensed historical and cultural elements of Dexing. Another highlight is the Jingsu Hall, a two-story antique-style building commemorating the political achievements of Su Mai, Su Dongpo’s eldest son, during his tenure as county magistrate.

The scenic area also features a sculpture group of ten historical celebrities.

With the economic and tourism development of Dexing, the Juyuan Tower Scenic Area is set to become a key tourist attraction for Dexing and surrounding cities. Current main attractions include: Juyuan Tower, Jingsu Hall, the sculpture group of ten historical celebrities, a collection of precious ancient trees, Baode Temple, and water recreation activities on Phoenix Lake.