Liaocheng Lion Tower

Liaocheng Lion Tower

Liaocheng Lion Tower is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural relic protection unit of Shandong Province.

Located at the central cross street of the old town in Yanggu County. According to the “-” and “Water Margin,” it was initially called the “Great Tavern under the Lion Bridge” and “Great Tavern under the Lion Street Bridge,” the place where Wu Song fought and killed Ximen Qing, and was later named Lion Tower. Its founding date is unknown. Originally a two-story earthen building, it was rebuilt in 1958 as a two-story brick-and-wood antique-style structure with five rooms on each of the upper and lower floors, standing 15.5 meters tall in total.

The Lion Tower in Yanggu County was built during the Northern Song Dynasty and is referred to by UNESCO as “one of the world’s few historic taverns.” The novel “Water Margin” has spread far and wide, and the story of “Wu Song fighting and killing Ximen Qing at Lion Tower” is particularly well known. To enhance the tourism appeal of Lion Tower, …

Regarding the origin of Lion Tower, there is a local legend: During the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty, Yanggu County was thriving with a bustling population, prosperous trade, and numerous shops. At the corner of the west street in Yanggu, there was a traditional Chinese medicine shop owned by Zhao Runchun, who had no sons but a daughter named Xiugu. Father and daughter ran the shop with honesty and fairness, enjoying brisk business. A local tyrant, Ximen Qing, lusted after Xiugu’s beauty, had Zhao Runchun killed, and seized both the pharmacy and Xiugu. On their wedding night, Xiugu, seeking revenge for her father’s murder, got Ximen Qing drunk, locked him in a room, set the house on fire, and then took her own life. However, Ximen Qing survived the fire, while the Twin Birds Pavilion in the western garden was reduced to ashes. To ward off evil and calm his nerves, Ximen Qing followed the advice of a feng shui master and built Lion Tower, carving a pair of stone lions with glowing red eyes, flowing manes, bared teeth, and snarling mouths in front of the tower. Later, Wu Song avenged his brother by fighting and killing Ximen Qing here, making Lion Tower famous far and wide. The Yanggu County Tourism Bureau plans to develop a tourism area of about 25,000 square meters near Lion Tower, including reconstructions of Ximen Qing’s five major shops, a seven-courtyard residence, the county yamen, an ancient theater, a silversmith shop, the former home of Wu Dalang, Granny Wang’s Teahouse, Lion Tower Hotel, Purple Stone Street, and a parking lot, offering an all-in-one experience of food, lodging, transportation, sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping. Once completed, Lion Tower will become a fully equipped, beautifully landscaped tourist destination with high-standard comprehensive services. Centrally located in the county town with convenient transportation and supporting amenities, the main local specialties around the scenic area include Ejiao (donkey-hide gelatin), Jingyanggang series liquors, dates, and wood carvings, while popular snacks include Wu Dalang’s cakes, roasted beef, donkey meat, and guada.

Architectural Design

Lion Tower is situated at the southwest corner of the main town square in Yanggu County. Initially built in the third year of the Jingyou era of the Song Dynasty, it is now an important site along the Water Margin tourism route. The Water Margin hero Wu Song avenged his brother by killing Ximen Qing here, making Lion Tower world-famous. This building follows the architectural style of the Song Dynasty, featuring a two-story, five-bay, three-depth structure with gray bricks and tiles, upturned eaves, bracket sets, carved beams, and painted rafters, presenting a majestic and spectacular sight. It covers a construction area of 451 square meters and stands 15.8 meters tall. In front of the tower are two pairs of stone lions; inside, there are life-like and vividly crafted statues of characters from Water Margin. Contemporary celebrities such as Shen Yanbing, Liu Haisu, Li Kuchan, and Gu Jiegang have left inscriptions here. Currently, a Water Margin and “-” cultural tourism area is being developed with Lion Tower at its center. This area consists of a Water Margin culture zone, a “-” culture zone, and a Song Dynasty commercial and folk culture zone, featuring main structures such as Ximen Qing’s seven-courtyard residence, Granny Wang’s Teahouse, Wu Dalang’s Cake Shop, an ancient theater, Jade Emperor Temple, the county yamen, and Lion Tower Hotel. It caters to tourists’ needs for food, lodging, transportation, sightseeing, entertainment, and shopping, and can also serve as a base for filming ancient Song Dynasty dramas.

Major Attractions

Opened to visitors on October 1, 2003, Lion Tower Tourist City is located in the center of Yanggu County. This theme-based scenic area, set against the backdrop of stories from “Water Margin” and “-,” showcases the folk customs of the Song Dynasty and covers an area of 30 acres. Major attractions include Granny Wang’s Teahouse, Wu Dalang’s Home, Cold Wine Shop, Paper Craft Store, Ximen Pharmacy, Salt Shop, Yarn Shop, Silk and Satin Store, Inn, Lion Grand Tavern, Chess Club, Theater Stage, and Jade Emperor Temple. During festivals, large-scale celebratory events and temple fairs are held. Daily entertainment options include Shandong storytelling, street performances by Wu Dalang and Yan Ge, Yanggu folk performances, lion dances, stilt walking, elderly yangko dance performances, Yu Opera troupe shows, folk acrobatics, sugar figure art, calligraphy performances, and craft-making demonstrations. Among these, the images of Wu Dalang and Pan Jinlian are especially popular with visitors and have become the highlight of the scenic area.

Suggested Duration

1 hour

Transportation

Take bus No. 2 or No. 6 within the county to Lion Tower Tourist City. For self-driving: Exit at Liaocheng on the Jiliao Expressway—head south along Liaoyang Highway—turn right at the 5km-to-Yanggu road sign and drive straight for 2 kilometers—turn left onto Lion Tower Road—drive south along Lion Tower Road for 3 kilometers to reach Lion Tower Tourist Area. The drive takes about 1 hour after exiting the highway.

Opening Hours

Summer: 8:00–18:30

Winter: 8:30–17:30

Scenic Spot Location

Cross Street Intersection, Yanggu County, Liaocheng City, Shandong Province

Lion Tower Subdistrict: The Lion Tower Subdistrict Office is located in the western part of Yanggu County’s urban area, governing six community neighborhood committees and 24 administrative villages, with a total population of 30,434, including 19,831 agricultural residents, covering 23,763 mu of arable land, and spanning an area of 33.35 square kilometers.

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Geographic Advantage

The Lion Tower Subdistrict Office leverages its locational and environmental strengths, liberates thinking, seizes opportunities, implements an “industry-focused subdistrict” strategy, adopts various preferential policies to actively attract investment, vigorously develops the private economy, intensifies urban development efforts, and strives to expand non-agricultural sectors... More detailed information on Lion Tower Subdistrict++