Star-Catching Tower on a Precipitous Cliff

　　   During his military command in Huanqing, the Song Dynasty official Fan Zhongyan built a stronghold atop Ruyuan City Mountain. At its center, he erected a platform facing north, with a seven-bay towering structure rising abruptly from the ground, piercing the clouds in a spectacular sight. The beam above the entrance was inscribed with the name “Star-Catching.” Whenever an alert of an approaching attack from the Western Xia was received, Fan would have his soldiers climb the tower to gaze over 300 li into the distance, scrutinizing the dust and movement, thus preparing defenses in advance — a strategy that eventually led to the submission of Li Yuanhao. Today, the tower itself has been destroyed, but remnants of the platform still remain.