Photo Gallery

Zhenhai Tower (built 1380, reconstructed 1928)

Zhenhai Tower was built at the start of the Ming dynasty in 1380 by Zhu Liangzi, a powerful member of the provincial nobility, to demonstrate his power to "shake the seas and the mountains". The tower was later incorporated into Guangzhou's city wall, becoming the northernmost watchtower. Now it stands alone in Yuexiu Park north of downtown Guangzhou, the city walls having been long since removed. The tower was rebuilt 1928 to house the Guangzhou City Museum. The tower is built in the Ming style, of course, and is painted red. The grounds around the tower hold some of the cannons used by the British during the Opium Wars when they seized the strategic high ground on which the tower stands. It also has two stone lions that were carved during the Ming dynasty and guard the entrance.