Gongchen Tower in Weishan Old Town, Dali

Gongchen Tower (拱辰楼) is located in the Ancient City of Weishan (巍山古城), Yunnan Province (云南省), and was originally built in the 23rd year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (明洪武二十三年, 1390). It served as the northern gate tower of the Menghua Garrison City (蒙化卫城) and is now a nationally protected cultural heritage site. The original structure had three stories, but during the Yongli reign of the Southern Ming (南明永历年间), it was rebuilt into a two-story building in a double-eaved hip-and-gable style, supported by 28 wooden pillars. Beneath the south and north eaves hang two grand Qing Dynasty plaques inscribed “Kui Xiong Liu Zhao” (魁雄六诏) and “Wan Li Zhan Tian” (万里瞻天). Standing atop a brick city wall, the tower served both defensive and ceremonial purposes and is one of the largest and best-preserved Ming-era gate towers in Yunnan.

The tower underwent multiple repairs during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In 1993, it was listed as a Yunnan Provincial Cultural Heritage Site. Since 2010, it has been used as a venue for Nanzhao Ancient Music (南诏古乐) performances. In January 2015, a fire caused by electrical wiring failure damaged 300 square meters of the structure. Restoration work was later carried out based on historical surveying data.

Location

Weishan (巍山) is a National Historic and Cultural City, known as the birthplace and former capital of the Nanzhao Kingdom (南诏国). Gongchen Tower is situated in Nanzhao Town (南诏镇), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province, and is one of the most iconic landmarks of the Ancient City of Weishan.

Architectural Features

Originally the north gate tower of the Menghua Garrison City (蒙化卫城) in the Ming Dynasty, Gongchen Tower features a double-eaved hip-and-gable design, measuring 25.76 meters in width, 15.7 meters in depth, and 16 meters in height, with two stories. It stands on a brick city wall 47.1 meters long, 26.6 meters wide, and 8.1 meters high, with an arched gateway underneath.

The tower is supported by 28 large encircling wooden pillars and features projecting eaves on all four sides, surrounding corridors, and massive structural components. The roof has gentle slopes with short corners and minimal upturned tips, forming a straight ridge that enhances its imposing and solid appearance. Parapets crown the north and south city walls.

From the top floor, visitors can enjoy panoramic views: layered hills to the east, the famed Wenbi Pagoda (文笔塔) and Weibao Mountain (巍宝名山) to the south, the Guajiang River (瓜江) to the west, and the snow-covered Cangshan Mountains (苍山) to the north.

Under the southern eaves hangs the plaque “Kui Xiong Liu Zhao” (魁雄六诏), signifying the strength of Mengshe Zhao (蒙舍诏) among the six zhaos of the Erhai region in the early Tang Dynasty. Under the northern eaves hangs “Wan Li Zhan Tian” (万里瞻天), expressing the historical ties between Nanzhao and the Central Plains.

Historical Timeline

• 1390 (Ming Hongwu 23) – Gongchen Tower was first built.
• 1648 (Southern Ming Yongli 2) – Repaired and changed from a three-story to a two-story structure.
• 1771 (Qing Qianlong 36) – The “Kui Xiong Liu Zhao” (魁雄六诏) plaque, written by Menghua Assistant Prefect Kang Rang (康勷), was added under the south eaves.
• 1785 (Qing Qianlong 50) – The “Wan Li Zhan Tian” (万里瞻天) plaque, written by Menghua Assistant Prefect Huang Dahe (黄大鹤), was added under the north eaves.