Jiaxiu Tower

Jiaxiu Lou was built in 1598 on a rock outcrop in the Nanming river, put up by a provincial official to encourage local scholarship, its name meaning first among the excellent, a reference to success in the imperial examinations. Three storeys of tiled roofs rise on a stone base, reached by the Fuyu bridge, an arched stone crossing of the same period. It has been rebuilt several times after fire and damage but keeps the original form, and it remains the emblem of Guiyang, appearing on everything local. Beside it stands Cuiwei Garden, a small courtyard complex from the Ming with exhibitions.

What you actually see

• The pavilion - three tiled storeys on a rock in the river.
• Fuyu bridge - the arched stone crossing to the base.
• Cuiwei Garden - the adjoining Ming courtyard complex.
• The night lighting - the tower lit and reflected in the water.

When to go

Year-round; evenings when the tower is lit are the most attractive. Guiyang is mild but often overcast and damp. The site is small and takes about an hour.

Honest expectations

The visit is short and the interior modest. The surroundings are dense modern city, so the setting is urban. Crowds photograph from the bridge in the evening.

Nearby

Qingyan lies south; Anshun is west.