Shanxi Travel | Qiaosi Stele Tower in the Cornfield

Qiaosi Stele Tower is located on the side of the road. The entire building is tall and majestic, with exquisite composition, delicate lines, and exquisite carvings. It is a rare work of art that integrates architecture, brick carving, stone carving, and calligraphy art. Qiaosi Stele Tower was built in the 17th year of Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty (1873) and is a merit stele tower built by the wealthy Zhou family for Zhou Wanzhong, a senior official. Historical background: Zhou Wanzhong was diligent and thrifty, versatile, and good at business. After becoming rich, he benefited the local people, donated public buildings, and was loved by the people. The single building faces north and south, with a stone platform of 17 meters long and a tower body of about 15 meters high. The tower body has six rooms, a single-eave hip roof, five stele rooms, and seven steles on the front. The preface was written by Qiao Jinfang, the top third scholar in the 15th year of Daoguang, and the nephew of the Zhou family. There are stone couplets and stone plaques between each room. The calligraphy level of the stele inscriptions is high. The upper part of the tower is decorated with imitation wooden dougong brick carvings on all four sides, with three-step single eaves and dragon-shaped heads. The brick and stone carvings include figures, animals, flowers, etc., and the overall preservation is relatively complete.