One-Day Tour Around Kunming Green Lake Liride Hotel - Daguan Tower

Just 4.5km from Kunming Green Lake Liride Hotel lies Daguan Tower, home to the "First Long Couplet in the World" that encapsulates Yunnan's millennia of history!

Daguan Tower's history dates back to 1690 during Emperor Kangxi's reign of the Qing Dynasty, built by then Yunnan Governor Wang Jiwen. In 1828, it was renovated and expanded to three stories. Unfortunately, it suffered damage during the Hui People's Uprising in 1857. Rebuilt in 1866, it was again damaged by natural disasters. It wasn't until 1883 during Emperor Guangxu's reign that Daguan Tower was fully restored.

The tower features triple-eaved pyramidal roofs with a square layout, surrounded by platforms. Facing water on the south side, its limestone platforms are paved with stone slabs, connecting to a long corridor on the west. The main structure uses an all-wooden frame with golden glazed roof tiles, ridges, finials, and gray base tiles. During my several visits, it was closed to the public, but I heard it's now open for visitors!

What truly made Daguan Tower famous as a historic Chinese landmark was Sun Ran's monumental contribution! During Emperor Qianlong's reign, Sun Ran visited Daguan Tower and, inspired by the panoramic view of Dianchi Lake stretching hundreds of miles, composed the 180-character "Daguan Tower Long Couplet" - a poetic masterpiece. The first part describes Kunming and Dianchi scenery, while the second recounts Yunnan's history. The current couplet displayed on the tower's sides was calligraphed by Zhao Fan, a renowned scholar from Jianchuan, at the request of Governor Cen Yuying in late Qing Dynasty.

[7th Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, 2013]

Post by Renew_234_Ward | Jun 4, 2025