Dawu Drum Tower

Dawu Drum Tower

Dawu Drum Tower is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Drum Tower

Era: Ming Dynasty

Location: South of Fangshan County

The Drum Tower is also known as Guanyin Tower. According to the “Record of Guanyin Tower” stele from the 26th year of the Jiajing reign (1547) in the Ming Dynasty, it was built in the 4th year of the Jingtai reign (1453), and has undergone multiple renovations since. During the renovation from 1986 to 1989, the entire structure was elevated by 1.5 meters. The existing building is mostly original from the Ming Dynasty, with the exception of a few components.

The tower has a total height of 18.5 meters, with a square floor plan, three bays in both width and depth, and a triple-eave cross-shaped hip-and-gable roof covered with clay tiles and trimmed with black glazed tiles. The first floor foundation is built of brick, 1.5 meters high, with 16 pillars erected above. It is open on all four sides, forming a cross-shaped passageway. The second floor features a balcony, and the brackets used in the tower vary in style, giving the structure a dynamic appearance. The first and second eaves have single upward-facing and downward-facing brackets with five interlocking layers; the balcony features three interlocking layers with single upward-facing brackets. There are two existing painted sculptures inside the tower.

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

Dawu Town: A town under the jurisdiction of Fangshan County. Established as Dawu People's Commune in 1958, it was restructured as a town in 1984. Located in the southern part of the county, it is 28 kilometers from the county seat. Covering an area of 96 square kilometers, it has a population of 21,000. National Highway 209 passes through the town. It administers 27 village committees: Dawu First Village, Dawu Second Village, Dawu Third Village, Dawu Fourth Village, Yangjiahui, CaopaiZui, Xixiangwang, Bao’an, Hongluogou, Juren Tou, Muguali, Fengjiapo, Wuhuizhuang, Dongshang, Jizhuang, Yawan, Wujiazhuang, Dujiazu, Wujia??, Lianjiashan, Huangbeitai, Jianliang, Xiangdang, Dongxiangwang, BaijiaZui, Dongpo, and Bagou. Township enterprises include... More detailed information about Dawu Town++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Shanxi Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units