Colorful Guizhou · Happy 'Qian' Journey: Jiaxiu Tower

©Text and Photos by Wang Tao Jiaxiu Tower is more than 600 meters away from our hotel. Even though it was raining heavily, we decided to walk there to admire its grandeur and enjoy the scenery of Jiaxiu Tower day and night, feeling the aura of a thousand years of cultural heritage. According to records, in the 26th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1598), Jiang Dongzhi, in his third year as the governor of Guizhou, built a tower on a large rock in the Nanming River, naming it Jiaxiu Tower, which means 'outstanding talent.' A bridge called Fuyu Bridge was built to connect both sides of the river. The tower has undergone several renovations over the years, including in the first year of the Tianqi reign (1621) and the 28th year of the Kangxi reign (1689) of the Qing Dynasty. The current structure was rebuilt in the first year of the Xuantong reign (1909). In 1981, the cultural relics department restored Jiaxiu Tower according to its original Ming Dynasty design, using modern building materials and techniques for the foundation and reconstructing Hanbi Pavilion. Jiaxiu Tower is a three-story, three-eave, four-cornered pavilion-style building with flying eaves and upturned corners. It stands about 20 meters high from the bridge deck to the top of the tower, supported by 12 stone pillars and surrounded by white carved stone railings. The tower is connected to both sides of the river by the stone-arched Fuyu Bridge, which has nine arches and is over 90 meters long, known as 'Nine Eyes Reflecting the Sandbar.' After the liberation, two arches were filled in to build a road along the river, leaving seven visible arches. The bridge has Hanbi Pavilion on it, Hanbi Pool and Shuiyue Terrace below it, and a stone and wood archway at the bridgehead with the inscription 'Relics of the South City.' To the south of the bridge is the ancient architectural complex 'Cuiwei Garden.' The front of Jiaxiu Tower has a plaque with the characters 'Jiaxiu Tower,' written by the scholar Xie Shiqin during the Xuantong reign of the Qing Dynasty. The plaque was lost during the Cultural Revolution but later recovered, with the characters 'Xiu' and 'Lou' found and the character 'Jia' recreated based on old photos. The plaque is now hung on the top floor of the tower. The main entrance on the first floor has a couplet written by Yi Peishen of the Qing Dynasty and supplemented by contemporary calligrapher Zhao Xilin. The upper line reads: 'In this turbulent world, I climb the tower to ask about the joys and sorrows of the counties in the west, never forgetting the daily records of peace and happiness.' The lower line reads: 'In this vast world, I bow my head and sigh at the ancient and modern landscapes, relying on outstanding talents to ensure safety and prosperity.' (The lower line is incomplete, with one character missing.) There is also a long couplet by Liu Yunliang about Jiaxiu Tower. The upper line reads: 'For five hundred years, it has stood firmly on the rock, supporting the sky, allowing me to climb higher and broaden my horizons. Look to the east at Hengxiang, to the west at Dianzhou, to the south at Yueqiao, and to the north at Baqu; the distant rivers and mountains, joyfully spanning two regions, supporting half of the Central Plains. It is just right to sweep away the Umon Gorge, dismantle the Masa Fort, organize the Chicken Camp, and guard the Dragon Pass, laboriously creating a place of music and beauty, a land of picturesque scenery. Do not say that the bamboo land is desolate, it cannot compete with the grandeur of Shenzhou.' The lower line reads: 'For thousands of feet, it towers over Niudu, forever guarding the border, asking who will carve the double pillars again, holding back the surging waves. Remember Qin's thorny road, Han's establishment of the Qiang River, Tang's pacification of Qielan, and Song's sealing of Luodian; in the misty wind and rain, lamenting the many famous figures who have worn away the old traces for a thousand years. It is better to call the Lion Hill in the moonlight, dine on the clouds of Elephant Ridge, drape the Phoenix Valley, and climb the Snail Peak, slowly ascending to appreciate the golden pavilions and smoky landscapes. It feels as if Pengzhou is within reach, frequently calling the immortals to talk about their travels.' In front of Jiaxiu Tower, there were originally two iron pillars. One was erected in the fourth year of the Yongzheng reign (1726) by the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, Eertai, to commemorate his suppression of the Miao people in Guzhou (now Rongjiang), collecting weapons and casting the iron pillar to mark his achievements. The other was erected in the second year of the Jiaqing reign (1797) by the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, Lebao, to commemorate his suppression of the Buyei uprising led by Wang Nangxian in Xingyi, collecting weapons and casting the iron pillar. Both pillars are inscribed with inscriptions and are now preserved in the Guizhou Provincial Museum. According to folklore, the Jiaxiu Tower built by Jiang Dongzhi carries the thousand-year cultural heritage of Guizhou, making Guizhou prosperous and producing many talents. Historical records show that Jiang Dongzhi, courtesy name Changxin, was from Shexian, Anhui Province. His birth date is unknown, and he died in 1599. He was a Jinshi in the fifth year of the Wanli reign (1577) and served as a censor. He was appreciated by the Wanli Emperor for reporting the misconduct of the eunuchs Feng Bao and Xu Jue, and was later appointed as the governor of Dengzhou. In the 24th year of the Wanli reign (1596), he was promoted to the governor of Guizhou. During his tenure in Guizhou, he purchased official land to accumulate funds to help the poor and encouraged scholars to study diligently. He built Jiaxiu Tower with the intention of 'outstanding talent and producing many talents,' earning the reputation of 'the best governor.' Jiaxiu Tower is a tranquil place in the bustling city. At night, it is brightly lit, becoming a focal point of historical culture and modern civilization, shining with the light of history in modern civilization, embodying the spirit of 'outstanding talent in the world.' It is a witness to the history of Guiyang and a landmark in the cultural development history.