Yellow Crane Tower

Constructed on Snake Hill in Wuhan, Yellow Crane Tower is famed as ‘the First Tower under Heaven’. It was originally built as a watchtower during the Three Kingdoms Period. Its military function was gradually forgotten and the tower became a well-known attraction during the Tang Dynasty. Many famous poets visited the tower and wrote poems to eulogize its magnificence.

Legend has it that the Yellow Tower was built by the owner of a pothouse called Old Xin. One day, a Taoist priest came to the pothouse. The son of Old Xin was very kind and gave some wine to him for free. In reward for the son’s hospitality, the Taoist priest drew a crane on the wall, which would dance at the banquet. Because of the dancing crane, Old Xin made a lot of money. Ten years later, the Taoist priest came here again. He rode the crane and flew away. Then Old Xin built this tower to thank the Taoist Priest.