Liang Sicheng's praised "unique example in the country"! A sculptural epic from the flourishing Tang to the Jin Dynasty hidden within the millennium-old Huata Tower in Zhengding

Liang Sicheng's praised "unique example in the country"! The millennium-old Huata Tower in Zhengding hides a sculptural epic from the flourishing Tang to the Jin Dynasty Beneath the ancient city walls of Zhengding, Hebei, lies a millennium-old tower that left architectural master Liang Sicheng in awe as a "unique example in the country"—the Guanghui Temple Huata Tower. It emerged from the smoke of the Tang Dynasty, was restored and revitalized during the Jin Dynasty, survived the ravages of war, and with its unique shape and intricate carvings, has become a "singular treasure" in the history of Chinese ancient towers. A visit here leaves you speechless, overwhelmed by its profoundness and exquisite beauty~ The Huata Tower’s stunning impact strikes at first sight! Standing tall at 40.5 meters, it is a four-story, octagonal pavilion-style brick tower, yet its design breaks the traditional regularity of ancient towers. The lower three floors are sturdy and pavilion-like, with windows on all four sides and heavy wooden doors, allowing visitors to gaze out over the ancient cityscape. Its structure, easy to defend but hard to attack, made it a stronghold for enemy forces during the Liberation War. To protect this millennium-old relic, hero Zhao Shengming resolutely chose light artillery over heavy bombardment and ultimately sacrificed his life. Today, his tombstone quietly stands in a corner behind the Huata Tower, with tower bricks and loyal spirit side by side, adding a layer of solemnity and respect to this ancient building. The true "beauty of uniqueness" lies in the top floor, which accounts for one-third of the tower’s height. Here, there are no typical eaves or tiers; instead, a brick-built inner core is covered with dense high-relief sculptures—muscular guardians with fierce eyes, lively sea beasts, fluttering flying apsaras, and solemn images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Interspersed among them are single-eaved pavilion-style small square towers, staggered like blooming flowers, earning it the nickname "bouquet-shaped" tower body. Sunlight on the brick carvings creates shifting shadows, with every detail radiating the boldness of the flourishing Tang and the delicacy of the Jin Dynasty. Ancient architecture expert Luo Zhewen praised it as "colorful and dazzling," calling it the pinnacle of Huata tower types from the Song, Liao, and Jin periods. Liang Sicheng repeatedly mentioned its uniqueness in his "Zhengding Survey Notes": "The combination layout of the main tower and the four corner small towers, paired with the high-relief design of the fourth-floor conical tower body, is unparalleled among existing ancient Chinese towers." Most ancient towers emphasize simple lines, but the Huata Tower narrows gradually from the third floor upward, covered entirely with exquisite carvings, as if transplanting the statue art of Western European cathedrals into an Eastern ancient tower. This cross-cultural ingenuity has remained unmatched for a thousand years. After enduring a millennium of weathering, the temple itself fell into ruin by the late Qing Dynasty, but the Huata Tower has stood firm alone. It witnessed the prosperity of the flourishing Tang, was cared for during the Jin restoration, survived the smoke and fire of war, and was protected by heroes with their lives. Today, touching the weathered bricks reveals not only the peak of sculptural art but also the passionate dedication and perseverance behind cultural heritage preservation. If you prefer niche and profound travel experiences, the Zhengding Huata Tower is definitely worth adding to your list! Standing beneath the tower looking up, watching the brick carvings shimmer through time, and hearing the wind whisper past the eaves, you can almost have a remote conversation with a thousand years of history, the architectural master, and the heroic guardian. This journey is not just sightseeing but a deep encounter with civilization~