East Gate Tower
By (www.chinadaily.com.cn)
2011-08-29
The tower is the well preserved relics of the Ming Dynasty in Liuzhou city. Built in the 14th year of Ming Dynasty Hongwu (AD 1381), the tower lies in the northern end of Wenhui Bridge at Shuguang East Street, Chengzhong District.
There have been repairs throughout dynasties. The tower’s structure of through type timber frame is five-room in building width and three-room in depth. On its beam frame are engraving flowers. It has gable and hip roof and multiple eaves. The cresting of main ridge is with the Ao Yu Qiang Zhu (sea-turtles fight for pearl), 17 meters in high and at both ends of which is the Longwen. The stone base is of square dressed stone and the wall of black bricks. The tower looks exceptionally majestic and spectacular. Above the gate is the two-storey watchtower. Inside are the simple yet magnificent cylinder brackets. On the title frame and screen panels there are beautiful carving of flowers.
The tower opens to visitors year round. On the top of it, one sees the winding clear river and green, grotesque hills. Above the glittering river, the night boats bear people’s singing. The lighted Liuzhou is in great peace.