Yanghe Tower

Yanghe Tower is a historic gate tower on Yanghe East Road in the old city of Zhengding County, about 20 km north of Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province. It forms part of the reconstructed city-wall circuit that gives Zhengding its character as an ancient walled town and a former regional capital. The tower stands over a gate in the wall in the traditional style, with a multi-tiered timber superstructure on a thick brick-and-earth base, upturned eaves and painted details. Visitors typically view it from the street and the wall approach, and the tower is especially photogenic at dusk and in the evening, when it is lit and the surrounding old-city streets glow. A stop here usually takes about 30 minutes, and it fits naturally into a walking route that links Linji Temple, Guanghui Temple and the other old-city monuments, since the tower sits close to Linji Temple on the same road. Entry rules vary, so visitors should check at the gate whether the tower interior or wall walkway is open, as the exterior can be seen free of charge. The best photo angles are from the road looking up at the gate arch and from a distance along the street where the tower frames the skyline. Crowds are light most of the time, with brief increases when tour groups pass through and on holiday evenings. Zhengding is reached by intercity bus or DiDi from Shijiazhuang in roughly 40 to 60 minutes. Information is mostly in Chinese, so a translation app is useful for the display boards.