Aged 'zhuangyuan tower' nears collapse
( 2003-09-02 11:00) (China Daily)
A "zhuangyuan tower", probably the last such tower in China and a remnant of
the country's imperial examination system in feudal years, is in danger of
collapse due to age and neglect of protection, reports Oriental News.
The tower was built in Xiangxiang County, Hunan Province more than 800 years
ago in remembrance of the area's only zhuangyuan, or scholar, who ranked No 1 in
the imperial national examination for potential officials.
Expert Zhou Yegui said there were no more than 500 zhuangyuans in China in
past dynasties, and this tower might be one of the last still standing.
He called on the local government to do something to save the tower from
crumbling into dust. "It's of historical significance,'' he
said.
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