Dragon-Viewing Tower

　　Dragon-Viewing Tower, also called Xianggou Tower, is situated on Longgun Slope, approximately 7 kilometers southeast of Ding’an County in Hainan Province. Constructed from brick and stone, it has seven stories and is 25 meters tall. The bricks bear single characters from the Thousand Character Classic, and the front of the ground floor is inscribed with the three characters “见龙塔” (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 heritage site and began efforts to rescue and preserve it. In 1996, the Ding’an County Cultural Center raised funds to restore the tower, maintaining its original charm.

　　Dragon-Viewing Tower is one of the better-preserved and earlier-built ancient towers in Hainan that still exists today. Its 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 Wenjun and local gentry such as Lin Qihao, though it was not completed at that time. It was finally finished in the 33rd year of Qianlong (1765 AD) with further funding from Magistrate Wu Xianju and others. Standing over 20 meters tall, the octagonal seven-story tower resembles a traditional multi-storied pavilion. Its bricks are stamped with individual characters from the Thousand Character Classic, and the front of the ground floor bears the inscription “见龙塔” (Dragon-Viewing Tower). Atop the tower’s finial bowl stands an iron spire that pierces the blue sky. Visitors can climb up the spiral brick stairway along the inner wall to reach the top, where they can gaze across the southern bank of the river and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the shore and in the distance — a delightful experience that refreshes both the mind and spirit.

　　 In 1956, the government allocated funds to renovate Dragon-Viewing Tower, ensuring that this historic structure retained its original charm.