Porcelain Tower of Nanjing

The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is a historic pagoda in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China, originally built during the Ming dynasty and long celebrated for its porcelain-clad exterior. It became one of the city’s most famous landmarks and has been the subject of a 21st-century reconstruction and visitor complex.

The reconstructed site presents the tower’s distinctive porcelain-inspired exterior and houses a small museum and exhibition spaces about the original tower and local heritage. A visitor platform and interpretive displays explain the tower’s craftsmanship and its cultural significance in Nanjing.

The original pagoda was constructed during the Ming era as part of the Bao’en Temple complex and attracted attention for its glazed porcelain tiles. That original structure was heavily damaged and eventually destroyed in the 19th century; the recent reconstruction restores the visual concept and provides museum interpretation rather than recreating a continuously surviving historic fabric.

The site sits within urban Nanjing in Jiangsu province, in the area historically associated with the old Bao’en Temple complex. It is reachable from central Nanjing and is presented as a cultural attraction within the city’s modern museum and park network.

• Reconstruction: A modern reconstruction was completed in the 21st century and includes a museum and visitor facilities alongside the reconstructed tower.
• Original tower: The original structure was famed for its glazed porcelain tiles and was a landmark of Ming-dynasty Nanjing before its destruction in the 19th century.