Dragon Viewing Tower

Dragon Viewing Tower

The Dragon Viewing Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Hainan Province.

The Dragon Viewing Tower, also known as Xiangou Tower, is located on Longgun Slope, about 7 kilometers southeast of Ding’an County in Hainan Province. Constructed from bricks and stones, it has seven stories and reaches a height of 25 meters. The bricks bear individual characters from the Thousand Character Classic, and the front façade of the base level is inscribed with the three characters "Dragon Viewing Tower." In 1956, the government allocated funds to renovate the tower. In 1986, the Ding’an County People’s Government designated it as a county-level cultural relic protection unit and began efforts to rescue and preserve it. In 1996, the Ding’an County Cultural Center raised funds to restore the tower, maintaining its former elegance.

The Dragon Viewing Tower is one of the best-preserved and relatively ancient towers in Hainan. Construction began in the 16th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1751 AD), initiated through donations by Ding’an County Magistrate Wu Wen Yun and local gentry such as Lin Qi He. Though initially unfinished, construction resumed in the 33rd year of Qianlong (1765 AD) with further funding by Magistrate Wu Xian Ju and others. Standing over 20 meters tall, the octagonal, seven-story tower imitates the style of a traditional pavilion. Its bricks carry individual characters from the Thousand Character Classic, and the front façade of the base level is engraved with the three characters "Dragon Viewing Tower." A cast-iron spire tops the finial on the tower’s roof, piercing the blue sky. Visitors can spiral up the interior brick stairway to reach the top, where they can gaze across the southern bank of the river, enjoying the picturesque views along the shore and in the distance—a truly refreshing and uplifting experience.

In 1956, the government allocated funds to renovate the Dragon Viewing Tower, helping the ancient structure retain its former charm.

Dingcheng Town: 1. Basic Information: Located in the northern part of Ding’an County, on the southern bank of the lower reaches of the Nandu River, Dingcheng Town borders the Haikou-Dongfang Expressway to the east, neighbors Xinzhu Town to the west, adjoins Leiming Town to the south, and faces Haikou City across the river to the north. The eastern section of Hainan’s Eastern Ring Expressway runs through Dingcheng Town, which lies 37 kilometers from Haikou. The town enjoys excellent transportation links and serves as the political, economic, cultural, and transportation hub of Ding’an County. It comprises 21 administrative villages, encompassing 143 natural villages and 381 economic cooperatives, as well as 13 communities and 139 resident groups. The area benefits from highly accessible transport infrastructure, with all 143 natural villages connected by roads. The total population is 105,000... More detailed information about Dingcheng Town++