Source: CCTV.com

09-06-2006 16:56

That's a whole lot of trees, good for them! Now.You're probably quite familiar with the Eiffel Tower, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But you may not know about the world's third "Wonder Tower". It's right here in China. The Yingxian Wooden Tower stands proud in Shanxi Province.

Among the three "Wonder Towers" of the world, the Yingxian Wooden Tower is least famous. But that doesn't mean it's the least significant, in architectural and historical value. Built 950 years ago, the tower has a longer story to tell than its European counterparts.

Constructed of wood weighing 7,400 tons, Yingxian is the world's only remaining wooden tower with an attic structure. It's 67 meters high. The cross section is an octagon, measuring 30 meters at the base.

The local government is now trumpeting this important piece of heritage, with a grand ceremony for its 950th birthday.

Actually Shanxi, called a "Musuem of Chinese Architecture", owes the honor to its towers. Around six hundred of them, made of different materials for different purposes, can be found across the province.

According to legend, Yingxian Tower was built overnight by Lu Ban - the master architect of ancient China. Well, that we'll never know. But the tower, like many others here in Shanxi, does hold definite answers, to many questions of history.

 

Editor:Luyuying