Zhaoming Tower, also known as Zhaomingtai (昭明台) stands at the heart of the ancient city of Xiangyang, built in memory of the Southern Dynasty Liang Dynasty’s Crown Prince Xiao Tong, making it an iconic landmark of Xiangyang. Constructed with blue bricks, the tower features a stone archway in the center, measuring 4.5 meters in height and 3.5 meters in width. Atop the platform sits a two-story building with five bays and a double-eave gable roof, towering approximately 15 meters high. Flanking it are four chambers on each side, with a drum tower and a bell tower to the southwest, giving the tower a grand and imposing presence that has long been celebrated as the “number one scenic spot in the city.”
The exact date of Zhaoming Tower’s construction remains unknown, having undergone numerous reconstructions and name changes over the years. During the Republican period, it housed the Ebei Northern Library. Unfortunately, the tower suffered destruction during the Japanese occupation in the Second Sino-Japanese War, and it collapsed due to heavy rainfall in the summer of 1973. However, it was rebuilt on the original site in 1993, a project that took three years to complete.
The reconstructed Zhaoming Tower is a modern structure, built using contemporary building materials. It stands 34 meters tall, featuring a three-story pavilion atop the platform in the Wei and Jin Dynasty architectural style. The tower now serves as a multifunctional complex, combining shopping, sightseeing, and cultural entertainment. Additionally, it houses the Xiangyang Museum, offering insights into the history of this ancient city and showcasing archaeological artifacts unearthed from the area.
Location and Transportation
Zhaoming Tower is located at No. 1 Beijie Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, China.To get there, tourists can take bus 6, 8, 13, 24, 28, 29, 512, 517, 532, D51, G03, or K15 and get off at Shizijie Stop (十字街站).
