Historic scenic spots in Shanxi

The Twin Towers, in the Yongzuo Temple, at Haozhuang on the eastern outskirts of Taiyuan, are the city’s major symbol and landmark and are unparalleled anywhere across the country.

They were originally known as the Xuanwen Towers, named for the Empress Dowager, Xuanwen (1578), who contributed to their building cost. They were completed in the 40th year of the Wanli emperor, of the Ming (1612), so they have about a 400-year history.

They sit on dry, high land and are built of masonry, 13 stories tall, or 54.7 meters, and are empty inside, with spiral ladders leading to the top and face each other. They have a sound-dampening effect and are virtually thunderstorm-proof.

Previous Page 1 2 3 Next Page