The city of Wuhan has been affectionately referred to as ‘the Chicago of China’, out of the many things the city has to offer, one of the most unique, is the Yellow Crane Tower.
Introduction
The Yellow Crane Tower had existed in many forms ever since AD 223. The current one was built 1981 and is situated on Snake Hill, a kilometre or so away from the site of the original tower.
History
The tower originally had militaristic purposes, but after the unification of the country, this was no longer required. It eventually became a place for citizens to enjoy the scenery, and became a tourist attraction as the city grew. There are many places to stay nearby such as Somerset Wusheng Wuhan, which is an alternative to Wuhan hotels.
Legends of the Tower
There are many mythical tales surrounding the tower. One of the most popular states that the tower was built in memory of an immortal by the name of Wang Zi’an who rode away on a giant yellow crane.
Literature
The tower gained fame after being featured in a poem by Cui Hao, an 8th century poet. There were few other famous poems that featured the tower as well. As a result of this, one of the uppermost floors of the tower was designed as a sanctuary of sorts for visiting poets, complete with all facilities a poet would require.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+