Guangji Gate Tower

Guangji Gate Tower

Guangji Gate Tower is a cultural heritage site under protection by Guangdong Province.

A 600-year-old tower situated on the remaining eastern wall of the ancient city of Chaozhou, featuring a three-story palace-style hip-and-gable roof. Visitors can climb to the top to view the Han River and the Xiangzi Bridge.

Guangji Gate Tower is located at the western end of the Xiangzi Bridge and is a major landmark of Chaozhou. Its restoration follows the design of a three-story palace-style hip-and-gable roof, reviving the Ming Dynasty stone-and-timber structure while preserving the original defensive, flood-prevention, and sightseeing functions of the East Gate Tower. The total height of the building is 24.43 meters, approximately 2.4 meters taller than the original. The original cement load-bearing columns on the second floor have been restored to stone columns, while the third and fourth floors still use wooden columns, with the original cement structures removed. Beams, doors, windows, railings, and roof ridges have all been restored to their Ming Dynasty forms, with dismantled components reused as much as possible after assessment to preserve more historical traces. Exposed surfaces such as roof tiles, walls, flooring, stone elements, and steps avoid direct use of cement. The restored tower has five bays in width and three in depth, with lattice doors replacing the former windowed walls on all four sides.

Guangji Gate Tower is located at the western end of the Xiangzi Bridge and is a major landmark of Chaozhou. Originally called “Guangji Tower,” it is also known as “Hanjiang Tower,” and commonly referred to as “East Gate Tower.” Construction of Guangji Tower began in the third year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1370), with various degrees of maintenance carried out in subsequent dynasties, and a major renovation in the 20th year of the Republic of China (1931).

Guangji Gate Tower is a three-story palace-style hip-and-gable roof structure. The outer gate originally bore the plaque inscription “East for Everlasting Spring.” The tower sits atop a tall and solid platform base, with an arched gateway in the center. It features seven bays in width and five in depth, supported by a combination of wooden and stone pillars at the front and rear that extend beyond the city wall, forming an arcade. The tower is built in imitation of a palace-style architecture, with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, glazed tiles, red walls, vermilion pillars, lattice windows, painted beams, and carved rafters, giving it a majestic and grand appearance.

The central arched gateway of the tower is 3.62 meters high and 2.9 meters wide. On the third floor hangs a large bronze bell cast in the fourth year of the Shaoxing era during the Southern Song Dynasty (1134). Originally placed in the Ma Wang Temple, it was moved here after the temple was abandoned. With the great river lying just before it and the long bridge framing the entrance, Guangji Gate Tower guards a vital transport hub between Fujian and Jiangxi.

Along both the north and south sides of Guangji Gate Tower, there are still over 2,000 meters of ancient city walls and three other ancient towers: Zhushu Gate, Shangshui Gate, and Xiashui Gate. In the late spring season, climbing to the tower offers views of the rising waters of the Han River, vast misty waves, picturesque peaks, and shuttle-like boats—a unique scene that contributes to one of Chaozhou’s Eight Inner Scenic Spots, known as “Viewing the Tides from the East Tower.”

Travel Tips:

This attraction is located on the ancient city wall of the Binjiang Corridor, which can be explored on foot. During the rainy season, visitors can enjoy one of Chaozhou’s Eight Scenic Spots, “Spring Tide at Xiang Bridge,” from the tower, and in summer, they can feel the river breeze on their faces while standing atop the tower.

Admission & Opening Hours

Admission: The tower is accessible, with free entry on both sides, though some parts may charge 10 RMB.

Address: East Gate Bridgehead, Dongcheng Middle Section, Huancheng East Road, Chaozhou City

Transportation: Take bus No. 3 to the original Department Store stop, fare 1 RMB per person

Route Navigation: Reach here by walking along the Binjiang Corridor from the head of the Han River Bridge; on foot, walk about 600 meters toward the Han River from the Department Store opposite Taiping Road

Xiangqiao Subdistrict: Located in the central area of the ancient city of Chaozhou, Guangdong Province, Xiangqiao Subdistrict is named after the “Xiangzi Bridge” within its jurisdiction. Its office is located at No. 26 Liuyaxiang, Taiping Road. Xiangqiao Subdistrict borders the Binjiang Corridor to the east, adjoins Shangxiping Road of Xihu Subdistrict to the west, extends to Dongping Street to the south, and reaches Shangshui Gate Street to the north. The subdistrict administers five community neighborhood committees: Kaiyuan, Yi’an, Changli, Taichang, and Fenshi, covering a total area of 0.63 square kilometers with a current population of 28,405. It hosts educational institutions including Kaiyuan Middle School, Changli Road Primary School, Yi’an Road Primary School, and Zhengrong Kindergarten, serving over 5,000 students.

　Xiangqiao Subdistrict… Detailed information on Xiangqiao Subdistrict++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites Under Protection