The Old Well and Crown Tower of Jingxing Coal Mine

The Old Well and Crown Tower of Jingxing Coal Mine

The Crown Tower and the Old Well, located within the former Second Coal Mine just south of the Jingxing Mining Bureau compound, are only 20 meters apart. As they are now protected as provincial cultural heritage sites, a surrounding wall has been constructed for their preservation.

The Crown Tower, built in the fourth year of the Republic of China (1915), covers an area of 38 square meters. It was designed by Germans using advanced Western design concepts and is built with brick and stone. The tower stands 36 meters tall. Its base consists of blue stone arches; the protruding top section functions as a water tower capable of holding 50 cubic meters of water, primarily supplying the industrial boiler smoke exhaust and providing production and domestic water for the Old Well (South Well). The tower structure is divided into inner and outer layers: the inner layer channels smoke, while the outer layer features a spiral staircase that leads directly to the top. The entire water tower is octagonal in shape and constructed from red bricks. Its top resembles a German royal crown, hence the name "Crown Water Tower."

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units