Chunqiu Tower

　　Situated in the northern part of the backyard of the Jiexiu Guan Di Temple. It is vertically arranged with structures such as the Meridian Gate, the Imperial Calligraphy Tower, and the Chongning Hall, and separated by low walls, creating an independent architectural ensemble. The overall design follows the ancient principle of “front hall for ceremonies, rear chambers for living.” Inside the tower is a statue of Guan Yu reading the “Spring and Autumn Annals,” hence the name. As the “Spring and Autumn Annals” is also known as the “Línjīng” (Book of the Unicorn), it is also called the Línjīng Pavilion. The current structure was rebuilt in the ninth year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1870).

　　The building is seven bays wide and six bays deep, with two stories and three tiers of eaves, featuring a hip-and-gable roof. Its total height reaches 30 meters, making it majestic and magnificent. Both the upper and lower floors are surrounded by corridors, connected by railings all around, offering spots for leaning and viewing. The brackets under the eaves are carved with intricate designs of dragons, phoenixes, flowing clouds, flowers, figures, and animals, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and transparency in detail. The roof is covered with colorful glazed tiles, shining brilliantly. Inside the tower is a side-view statue of Guan Yu reading the “Spring and Autumn Annals,” with his right hand resting on the desk and his left hand holding his beard, rendered in strikingly lifelike detail. On the east and west sides of the tower, there are spiral staircases with thirty-six steps each, providing access to the upper and lower levels. The tower’s structure is ingeniously unique—the columns of the upper-floor corridor stand atop the suspended lotus-shaped columns of the lower floor. These hanging columns appear to float in midair, supported internally by bracket arms, giving the visual impression that the upper stories are suspended. From the tower’s heights, one can gaze out at the salt lake, white as a silver expanse, and the Zhongtiao Mountain range, lush like a verdant screen. Within the temple grounds, ancient cypresses tower above, vines drape the trees, and rare flowers and plants vie for splendor. When the wind blows, the bells atop the tower chime harmoniously, creating an atmosphere rich with the charm of a sacred site.

　　The structure is covered in glass, gleaming brilliantly. Inside the building stands a side-view statue of Guan Yu reading the *Spring and Autumn Annals*, his right hand resting on the desk and his left holding his beard, with an extraordinarily lifelike expression. On the east and west sides of the interior, there are thirty-six steps each leading up and down. The building’s structure is ingeniously unique: the pillars of the upper corridor stand atop the pendant lotus columns of the lower level, with the hanging columns suspended in midair and supported internally by bracket arms, giving the outward appearance of a floating pavilion. Climbing to the top offers a sweeping view—salt pans shimmer like a silver lake, while the Zhongtiao Mountains rise like a verdant barrier. The temple grounds are shaded by towering ancient cypresses, their branches entwined with vines, adorned with rare flowers and exotic plants vying in beauty. When the wind blows, the bells atop the building chime harmoniously, creating a distinctly sacred atmosphere.