Dongting is known for its waters far and wide, as Yueyang Tower is for its height

The renowned Yueyang Tower, located on Dongting North Road in the Yueyang Tower District of Yueyang City, Hunan Province, stands atop the western gate wall of the ancient city of Yueyang, adjacent to Dongting Lake, overlooking the lake to the south and Junshan Island to the front. It was first constructed in the 20th year of Jian'an during the Eastern Han Dynasty (215 AD), and has been repeatedly renovated throughout the dynasties. The current structure follows the form and layout from its reconstruction in the 6th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1880 AD). The tower gained its fame from the 'Memorial to Yueyang Tower' written by Fan Zhongyan, a friend of Teng Zongliang who renovated the tower during the Northern Song Dynasty. It has since been celebrated with the saying, 'Dongting for its waters, Yueyang for its tower,' and is listed among the 'Three Great Towers in the south of the Yangtze River' alongside the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, Hubei, and the Tengwang Pavilion in Nanchang, Jiangxi. It is one of the 'Top Ten Historic and Cultural Towers in China,' one of the four great ancient towers, and is known as 'the foremost tower under heaven.' 🏮The main building of Yueyang Tower is rectangular, 19.42 meters high, 14.54 meters deep, and 17.42 meters wide. It is a three-story structure with four pillars, flying eaves, a helmet-shaped roof, and a pure wooden frame. The four nanmu golden pillars in the center of the tower reach straight to the top, surrounded by corridors, beams, rafters, and purlins that interlock to form a whole. The roof is covered with glazed yellow tiles, giving it a solemn and grand appearance. The first floor of Yueyang Tower houses a carved screen of the 'Memorial to Yueyang Tower' along with poetry, couplets, and carvings; the second floor features a purple sandalwood carved screen with the 'Memorial to Yueyang Tower' written by Qing Dynasty calligrapher Zhang Zhao; the third floor displays a carved screen of Mao Zedong's handwritten poem 'Ascending Yueyang Tower' by Du Fu, and the eaves columns are adorned with the couplet 'Water and sky blend in one color, wind and moon are boundless,' written by 'Changgeng Li Bai,' offering significant aesthetic value. As the only one of the three great towers to maintain its original structure, Yueyang Tower's unique helmet-shaped roof reflects the ingenuity of the ancient working people and the exquisite design skills of skilled craftsmen. 🏮In January 1988, Yueyang Tower was announced by the State Council as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units; in August of the same year, it was listed as a national key scenic spot. On January 30, 2005, Yueyang Tower was selected as one of Hunan's top ten cultural heritages. In September 2011, Yueyang Tower Scenic Area was officially approved by the National Tourist Attraction Quality Grade Evaluation Committee as a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction. 🎫Ticket: Yueyang Culture and Tourism Company 🎫Adult ticket: 70 yuan 🎫Discounted ticket for seniors and students: 35 yuan 🎫The above tickets do not include night visits; for night tickets or free admission, please refer to the announcements made by the scenic area 🈺️Business hours: 07:00-18:00 🕐Recommended duration of visit: 3h 📇Address: No. 60, Dongting North Road, Yueyang Tower District, Yueyang City, Hunan Province