Doukui Tower

Doukui Tower

Doukui Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Hunan Province.

Doukui Tower was first built in the 12th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1747 AD), located at the foot of Guitai Mountain on the southern bank of the Zi River, standing to the left of Yiyang’s Third Bridge. It is a seven-story granite pagoda.

Doukui Tower and Sántái Tower on Sāntáizhōu Island across the river on the northern bank face each other from afar. In ancient times, two pagodas were constructed on either side of the Zi River, in front of the east gate of the county town. This had two symbolic meanings: first, to subdue dragons and suppress demons. Legend says that around spring and summer each year, when heavy rains poured down, an enraged yellow dragon from the Zi River would team up with monsters beneath the riverbed to stir up storms, flooding both banks and endangering local residents. The people hoped that building pagodas along the river could help subdue these river demons and chain the yellow dragon. Second, to establish a majestic gateway outside the east gate of the county town. By placing a pair of pagodas as guards, they formed an imposing county entrance, making passing boats and rafts on the river feel the "might" of the ancient city of Yiyang.

The pagoda at the foot of Guitai Mountain was named Doukui Tower, embodying the aspirations of thousands of local residents for the flourishing of Yiyang’s literary culture. Located on Guitai Mountain by the water on the southern bank of the Zi River, the area has been a renowned site for scholarly study and lectures since the Song Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, it was known as Longzhou Academy. Legend has it that all stars in the heavens point toward the North Star, and among the seven stars of the Big Dipper, the first one is called the Kuí Star, which governs the rise and fall of literary fortune. The locals hoped for a flourishing academic culture and the emergence of many talented individuals in Yiyang, so they named the pagoda after the Kuí Star of the Big Dipper, wishing for the Kuí Star to manifest its power in Yiyang and bless the area with abundant talent.

Although belief in divine protection is superstitious, the beautiful study environment and positive academic atmosphere of Longzhou Academy indeed nurtured many notable figures for Yiyang. Pioneers of the proletarian revolution such as Zhang Kundi, Xiong Henghan, and Yuan Zhuren, Zeng San—former Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee—as well as literary giants like Zhou Yang and Zhou Libo, were all students of Longzhou Academy.

Doukui Tower is seven stories high, with a total height of 29.175 meters. It is entirely built from granite slabs and has an internal spiral staircase that leads to the top. The top of Doukui Tower was struck by lightning in 1873, after which local residents carried out repairs. By 1969, cracks and tilting were discovered at the top of the tower. To prevent accidents, the city construction department at the time dismantled the top two stories.

In 1998, the People's Government of Yiyang City designated a protected area and construction control zone for the tower. The protected area extends 50 meters east and west from the tower, reaches the fence of No. 2 Middle School to the south, and the southern bank of the Zi River to the north. The construction control zone extends 30 meters outward in all four directions from the protected area.

In 2011, the People's Government of Hunan Province listed it as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

In 2016, the municipal government initiated the “Riverside Scenic Belt” project, and the surrounding environment of Doukui Tower is currently undergoing renovation and lighting improvements.