The Yueyang Tower is an ancient architectural treasure which is located on the shores of Dongting Lake in Yueyang City, Hunan Province.
Yueyang Tower is listed as one of the Three Great Towers in China, along with the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan and the Prince Teng Pavilion in Nanchang. It has long enjoyed the reputation of being the "first tower under heaven", as the Dongting Lake is known as the "first water under heaven."Standing on the tower, one can gaze at the distant view of the mists and ripples of the Dongting Lake, with boats sailing on the vast lake.
The Yueyang Tower has its special architectural features. Its main building has three stories and is 15 meters in height, with four huge nanmu pillars supporting the whole building, twelve round log columns supporting the second floor, and another twelve catalpa pillars supporting the roof. Constructed of wood with interlocking brackets that require no nails, the main building is as steady as a monolith. Its roof looks like a general's helmet, grand and unique. On the right side of the main building is the Thrice Drunken Pavilion, named after a legend describing Immortal Lu Dongbin who got drunk here three times. On the left side is the Fairy Plum Blossom Pavilion. It is said that a flagstone was excavated during the Emperor Chongzhen's reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-16440). The lines on the stone resemble withered plum blossoms. Those lines were regarded as hand drawings of immortals and called the pavilion Fairy Plum Blossom Pavilion. The piece of flagstone is still erected in the center of the pavilion. Housed in the tower is a wooden screen written by famous calligrapher Zhang Zhao of the Qing Dynasty. Fan Zhongyan's Remarks of Yueyang Tower are inscribed on the screen, which remind visitors of his famous lines.
Seen from a distance, the Yueyang Pavilion seems like a giant bird which is in flight.The red building with its yellow glazed roof tiles is a splendid and colorful sight.
In September 2007, Yueyang Tower Scenic Area was expanded from 73 acres to 670 acres, increasing new scenic spots of Zhan Yue Gate, Antique wall, turret, Dongting Lake Poetry Veranda, Bianhe River Street, the Southern Gate , the memorial temple of Teng Zijing and Fan Zhongyan, Five dynasties brass towers, tablet corridor, Lv Dongbin Temple, and other attractions.