Qixian Zhenhe Tower

Qixian Zhenhe Tower

Qixian Zhenhe Tower is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Located in Jialing Town, about 7.5 kilometers northeast of Qixian County. This structure was first built during the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty and is a self-contained ancient building. Zhenhe Tower, located in Jialing Town, approximately 7.5 kilometers northeast of Qixian County, was constructed in the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty and is a standalone ancient architectural complex.

Zhenhe Tower has four stories, with the main structure reaching a height of 15.5 meters. It spans 15.5 meters from east to west and 13.5 meters from north to south. The tower is surrounded by 18 exposed pillars, and the ground floor features a brick-arched gateway that is 8 meters long and 2.8 meters wide. This pavilion-style building is quite rare in Shanxi Province and is now listed as one of the province’s Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Zhenhe Tower is a standalone pavilion-style building, initially constructed in the early Hongwu years of the Ming Dynasty, dating back over 600 years. The tower is 15.5 meters long from east to west, 13.5 meters wide from north to south, with a five-bay façade, four eaves, and three stories, standing 15.5 meters tall. The first floor has a brick archway, with the passageway measuring 8 meters in length and 3 meters in width, running from north to south, historically used as a thoroughfare for pedestrians and horse-drawn carriages. Empress Dowager Cixi, during her westward journey to Xi’an, stopped here and was so impressed by the tower that she praised it highly. The tower is supported by 18 exposed pillars that uphold the wooden superstructure above. Its roof is of the hip-and-gable style, adorned with glazed tiles, with upturned eaves layer upon layer, and orderly arranged brackets, giving an overall impression of primitive grandeur, while the detailed components are exquisitely delicate. A large horizontal inscribed board hangs from the top floor, inscribed with “Sichuan-Shaanxi Thoroughfare,” which is quite eye-catching. The tower originally housed wooden carvings and clay sculptures of Buddhas and guardian deities, but these no longer exist.

The reason behind the construction of Zhenhe Tower leaves visitors with much to ponder. Legend has it that in ancient times, the flooding of the Changyuan River brought disasters to the people of Qixian. To ward off calamity, this tower was erected on the auspicious site of Jialing Town. Since then, the river has been tamed, Qixian has prospered, and its people have lived in peace and contentment. The two plaques currently on the tower embody these wishes of the people. The plaque on the front reads “Eternally Guarding Changyuan,” while the one on the back says “Blessing the Zhang Family,” reflecting the beliefs and customs of the people in ancient times.

Zhenhe Tower

Era: Ming Dynasty

Address: Jialing Village, Jialing Town, Qixian County

This tower was built to suppress the “river disasters” of the Changyuan River, hence the name “Zhenhe Tower.” It was first constructed during the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1426–1435), and underwent multiple renovations during the Jiajing era and the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty. It is a two-story, four-eave, hip-and-gable roofed building. Facing south, it has a five-bay width and a four-bay depth, with a total height of 15 meters. The base is made of brick and stone, with a central arched gate that runs from north to south.

On October 7, 2019, Zhenhe Tower was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Jialing Village: Located 5 kilometers north of Qixian County, Jialing Village is the seat of the Jialing Town government. It has a population of 3,986, with 1,270 households and 1,500 laborers. The village covers 8,973 mu of arable land, and its residents mainly rely on farming and animal husbandry for their livelihoods, making it a purely agricultural village. Jialing cured meat and Jialing small peanuts are well-known and have a long history. The villagers are known for their simple and frugal lifestyle. In recent years, under the leadership of the village Party branch and committee, the community has focused on economic restructuring, continuously striving for progress, leading to rapid development in social economy and various public services... More details about Jialing Village++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units