Tower of the Yellow Crane, Chinese pagoda on Snake Hill in Wuhan, China.

The Tower of the Yellow Crane is a five-story, 51.4-meter-high structure on Snake Hill in Wuhan, completed in 1985. Its exterior shows five stories, but the interior has nine levels, a number tied to imperial power. The eaves extend outward like crane wings. The reinforced-concrete building has a 5-meter gourd-shaped top and a ground floor 30 meters wide on each side.

The original structure was built in 223 as a military watchtower under Sun Quan's rule but underwent multiple reconstructions through the centuries. The current version was fully rebuilt in 1985, blending authentic historical designs with modern craftsmanship.

The tower's name comes from legends of the immortal Wang Zi'an, who rode away from Snake Mountain on a yellow crane, and of Fei Yi, who rested there on crane-back. It was also a Taoist site where Lü Dongbin is said to have ascended to heaven; a small cave beneath the tower holds his statue. Today the third floor displays portrait murals of poets Cui Hao, Li Bai and Bai Juyi with their verses.

The site is well connected by several bus lines including routes 10, 61, 401, and 402, plus trolleybus lines 1, 4, and 7 that go directly to the base of the hill. Early morning or late afternoon visits tend to be less crowded, and you'll find better lighting conditions for photos and a more relaxed experience overall.

The name comes from the Yellow Crane Jetty below the original site, where Sun Quan built the Xiakou fort in 223. Legends instead tell of the immortal Wang Zi'an flying off on a yellow crane, or of Fei Yi resting on Snake Hill. A small cave beneath the tower, Lü Zu Dong, holds a statue of Lü Dongbin.