Wanshoubao Tower, Historical tower in Jingzhou, China.
Wanshoubao Tower is a brick structure in Jingzhou with multiple levels and traditional Chinese architectural features. The building displays carefully worked brick patterns and rises to a considerable height above the surrounding landscape.
The tower was built from 1548 to 1552 on the orders of Zhu Xian, Prince of Liao, who acted on behalf of his principal mother, Consort Mao, to pray for the emperor's longevity. In 1825 iron hoops were added to reinforce the outer walls. After the Jingjiang dike was raised in 1952, the tower's ground floor was buried beneath the dike surface.
The name Wanshoubao means "treasure pagoda of long life": it was built from 1548 by Prince Liao Zhu Xianzun on the orders of his mother, Consort Mao, to pray for the emperor's longevity. The tower stands in Wanshou Garden beside the Jingzhou Changjiang bridge, where calligraphies by celebrated poets are also displayed.
The tower is easy to find in the city of Jingzhou and accessible from main areas. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as interior stairs may be steep, and it is wise to plan enough time for exploration.
After the Jingjiang dike was raised in 1952, the tower's ground floor was buried beneath the embankment surface, so the seven-storey pagoda now appears shorter than its 40.46 m. The base is a stone Sumeru pedestal 1.14 m high with sides of 5.9 m, and every doorway faces south.
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