Suojiang Tower

Suojiang Tower lies on the south bank of the Yangtze River, in Jiujiang City. Originally Suojiang Tower is a group of ancient buildings, including Suojiang Tower, Suojiang Pagoda and four iron oxen guardians. Now, only Suojiang Tower remains to exist. The tower was considered as auspice to prevent people from bane and floods. When traveling by steamboat along the river, Suojiang Pagoda is the first thing you see as you enter the district of Jiujiang, and thus is regarded as the symbol of Jiujiang City.

Suojiang Tower was firstly built in 1586 of Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to protect the people from floods. A pagoda was built at a later point near Suojiang Tower - Suojiang Pagoda, also known as Wenfeng Pagoda. Suojiang Pagoda is built of stones and medieval thick bricks, making its seven stories very solid. With a height of 35 meters, Suojiang Tower is a mezzanine wood like structure. The tower has interior wooden staircase, which allows people to reach on the top of the tower to have a panoramic view of the Yangtze River.

Suojiang Tower has been weathered in the wind and rain for more than 400 years. It is recorded that an earthquake during the Ming Dynasty and many battles during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912）destroyed the whole Suojiang Tower complex except Suojiang Tower. Especially during the Anti-Japanese war, Japanese invaders bombed Jiujiang with artillery and the tower was bombed and received many holes. Although badly damaged, Suojiang Tower stands there doggedly. It also reveals the wonderful skills of the ancient workmen.

In recent years, the tower was rebuilt and restored many times and regained its vitality and glory again. In order to protect the ancient architecture, Suojiang Tower was listed as a provincial cultural relic protection unit in 1987.

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