Dongtou and the Wanghai Tower

Even after our tour and an internet search, I am not sure as to the history of repairing and rebuilding the Wanghai Tower. I know the original tower was built in 434 A.D. under the governorship of Yan Yanzhi. I know the Chinese (as well as several other Asian cultures) tend to consider place as more important as a historic landmark than any current physical structure. Nevertheless, this impressive 118 foot high structure sits atop a high hill, overlooking the Dongtou archipelago and the East China Sea.

Left: No striking skyscrapers this stop, but these apartment tops are interesting. Right: The entrance to the Wanghai Tower park.

The grounds are beautiful, with several nearby pavilions. The tower contains exhibition halls of artifacts and depictions of the area’s heritage and customs.

Pavilions on the grounds.

Two views of the tower.

Before we entered the tower, we visitors were entertained by a women’s drum troupe, dancers and a male singing group.


The drum troupe and dancers

Left: Fishermen would burn off barnacles and other unwanted attachments to a ship’s hull.

Two of many exhibits of local traditional culture.

Views from the tower’s fourth level, the highest we could go. The day was not clear, in fact threatening a rain that did not come. Nevertheless, the views were enjoyable despite the misty air.

Left: Yan Yanzhi, builder of the original tower. Right: These cliffs, as seen from the towers fourth tier are likely not them, but nearby is a set of cliffs called “Half Screen”. Legend has it that the other half is located on Taiwan, separated by the gods.

The cruise is moving along, with the next port of Zhongshan just south of Shanghai. 

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4 responses
Really enjoying your new strategy of shorter posts as you are seeing so much and we get a taste of each moment! Hugs❤️
— Peggy Mekemson
I have never seen the technique of burning barnacles, etc. to clean a ship's hull, John. Is it common?
— Curtis Mekemson
I asked the guide that same question, Curtis, but didn’t understand the answer. 😕
— John
Peggy, it’s more a function of time, energy, and mostly internet access than a strategy. At one point yesterday things went from taking five minutes to upload a single picture in a blog posting to about 30 seconds. Hence the rash of quick postings.
— John
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