Fuyang: Towers, Pagoda and Memory

In the wider region around Fuyang, several buildings bring striking forms together with specific historical connections. Kuixinglou combines a hexagonal structure with the old city wall; the Wenfeng Pagoda stands in Wenfeng Park on Yingzhou Road. Hui Lao Tang turns the focus to Ouyang Xiu and Zhao Gai. Together, these examples offer different ways to explore culture: architectural form, military history, construction date and visual memory.

Kuixinglou: Architectural Form and Military History

Kuixinglou is built entirely of brick, has three storeys and is hexagonal. The structure is 9.93 metres high, and an iron phoenix sits on the roof ridge. Its materials, number of storeys, floor plan and roof ornament define its appearance. The hexagonal floor plan describes the structure, while the phoenix marks its crowning feature—two details that are easy to distinguish when comparing architectural forms. Kuixinglou is also known by the names Guijiaolou, Wanghuolou and Sanpengta; all refer to the same tower.

Kuixinglou stands at the southeastern junction of the walls of Fuyang’s old city. It was built in 1574 as a defensive tower, when the southern city wall was being expanded. Its construction date and function are therefore part of the history of the city’s fortifications. Those interested in urban history can view the tower both in terms of its architectural form and its role in connection with the wall. Its historical appeal lies in this combination of structure and purpose.

The Pagoda and Visual Memory

The Wenfeng Pagoda stands in Wenfeng Park on Yingzhou Road in Fuyang and was built in 1696. Its setting differs from that of Kuixinglou: the tower stands at the southeastern junction of the old city walls, while the pagoda is in a park on a road. The historical comparison also reveals different contexts: Kuixinglou was built as a defensive tower during the expansion of the southern city wall; the Wenfeng Pagoda, with its own construction date, offers another way to explore the architectural history of the area.

At Hui Lao Tang, the focus shifts from architecture to art and the people depicted. It contains a stone relief portrait of Ouyang Xiu and a bronze sculpture showing Ouyang Xiu and Zhao Gai meeting. The relief depicts one person, while the bronze sculpture depicts an encounter between two people. If you are travelling with children, these different subjects offer a concrete starting point for conversation: Who is the portrait of, and what does the encounter show?

Hui Lao Tang was restored and renovated in September 2005 at its original site, using the original materials and following its original appearance. The restoration adds another dimension to the subject: alongside the people depicted, there is the history of the place itself. Hui Lao Tang thus combines visual art with the restoration of the building.

Cultural Highlights for Your Trip

If you are planning a trip to Fuyang with a cultural focus, distinguishing between these options can help with your planning: Would you like to focus primarily on architectural form and military history, a pagoda and its construction date, or works of art and restoration? When looking for a holiday rental, you can take this personal focus into account alongside your other travel requirements and choose where to stay based on your overall plans.

Discover more destinations: Tongling, Bozhou, Anqing, Bengbu, Xuancheng, Chizhou, Wuhu, Chuzhou.

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