Hui Bo Tower

Hui Bo Tower

Located in the northeast corner of Daming Lake Park. Built in the early Yuan Dynasty, it derives its name from being situated atop Hui Bo Bridge (also known as the North Water Gate). The tower was destroyed on the eve of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and was rebuilt in 1981 with a concrete structure. It features a seven-bay, two-story layout with upturned eaves, red pillars, green tiles, vividly crafted roof ornaments, and melodious wind chimes. Surrounded by a cluster of poplar trees as if they were stars encircling the moon, the tower bears the inscription “Hui Bo Tower” by contemporary painter Li Xiongcai. From the tower, one can look south to admire famous peaks such as Mount Li and Mount Yuhan, or gaze north to take in views of Mount Hua, Mount Que, and Mount Yao. Look up to see the blue sky and white clouds, or down to the clear waves of the lake, where painted pleasure boats glide through green lotuses, and reflections in the water are perfectly visible. On a clear day or at dusk, the tower offers breathtaking scenery — the setting sun and shimmering lake light blend together, evening clouds spread their glow, and the soft ripples enchant the eye. The sky and water merge seamlessly, creating a serene atmosphere that lifts all worries. One of the ancient “Eight Scenic Spots of Jinan,” known as “Hui Bo Evening Glow,” refers to this very view. The contemporary master of painting and calligraphy Liu Haisu inscribed the plaque “Hui Bo Evening Glow” on the tower.

To the north of Hui Bo Tower lies Hui Bo Gate, formerly known as the North Water Gate. Above the gate stands the imposing Hui Bo Tower. During the Xining era of the Song Dynasty, in an effort to manage flooding in the northern part of Jinan, Zeng Gong, then governor of Qizhou, constructed what is now the North Water Gate. Serving both as a city gate and a drainage outlet, it allowed lake water to flow out through sluice gates and eventually into the Xiaoqing River. The sluice gates were generally kept closed, and because the east, south, and north gates of old Jinan were not aligned on a single axis, there arose the saying that “the four gates do not align, and the north gate does not open.” The water of Daming Lake is formed by the convergence of springs and gathers at the North Water Gate before draining out, which is why the gate is also called Hui Bo Gate. As a result, Daming Lake has become a treasured body of water that “does not rise during prolonged rain nor dry up during extended droughts.” In the early Yuan Dynasty, a two-story gatehouse was built atop the North Water Gate and named Hui Bo Tower. It was expanded and renovated in the second year of the Zhi Zheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1322 AD), and again in the first year of the Tai Ding era. By the time Jinan was liberated, the tower had deteriorated and collapsed. In 1982, the Jinan Municipal People’s Government rebuilt Hui Bo Tower on the site of the original structure, largely following the old design. It is a seven-bay, two-story gatehouse-style building with “upturned and gabled double-eave” architecture, standing 13.6 meters tall atop the 7-meter-high North City Gate. The entire structure is supported by 88 red pillars, featuring flying eaves, brackets, green tiles, bright ridges, and wind bells hanging from the upturned corners. Both floors are encircled by corridors for visitors to sit and enjoy the view. The doors, windows, and panels are carved with traditional patterns and decorated with gold accents and elegant paintings. Under the southern eaves of the second floor hangs a golden plaque inscribed with “Hui Bo Tower,” written by contemporary painter Li Xiongcai. On the western side, another plaque under the second-floor eaves reads “Hui Bo Evening Glow,” inscribed by the art master Liu Haisu.

The charm of Hui Bo Tower lies in the view from its heights. Leaning on the railing and looking into the distance, you can see verdant mountains stretching like a screen to the south, lush and majestic. To the north, Mount Hua shrouded in mist, Mount Que in soft hues, rows of buildings, and expanses of green fields unfold before your eyes. Looking down, the mirror-like surface of the lake reflects pleasure boats drifting among willow-draped pavilions and towers — a truly magnificent sight. If you visit at dusk in autumn, you’ll witness the rosy hues of the setting sun glowing against a tapestry of colorful clouds. In this light, the distant mountains appear veiled in a pink haze, their forms even more profound despite the soft blur. The city’s skyscrapers reflect beams of golden light, casting the entire urban landscape in radiant splendor. The riverside willows, seemingly intoxicated by the brilliance, don purple hues as they quietly gaze upon the shimmering golden ripples on the lake. These golden waves cast countless rays of light that reflect onto Hui Bo Tower, making it appear resplendent and celestial, like a palace in the heavens. Among the ancient “Eight Scenic Spots of Jinan” was “Hui Bo Evening Glow,” referring to the autumn evening scene viewed from the old stone bridge south of the North Water Gate. Though the stone bridge no longer exists and the arched gate has been sealed, this particular view can no longer be seen. However, the vast and varied spectacle offered by Hui Bo Tower may well represent a new and even more magnificent “Hui Bo Evening Glow.”