Tower of the Yellow Crane

The Yellow Crane Tower (commonly called Yellow Crane Tower) is a historic tower on Snake Hill in the Wuchang district of Wuhan and a major cultural symbol of the city. The site is famous for its presence in classical Chinese poetry and for panoramic views over the Yangtze River.

The current multi-storey structure is a reconstruction of the historic tower and includes viewing terraces and indoor exhibition space that interprets the site’s long literary and cultural significance. Visitors ascend to multiple levels to view the river, urban skyline and nearby hills.

Historical records refer to earlier towers on the site as far back as the early centuries of the first millennium, with repeated destruction and rebuilding across the centuries. The present reconstruction dates from the late 20th century and stands as a modern monument referencing the tower’s long history.

The tower sits on Snake Hill (Sheshan) in Wuchang on the southern bank of the Yangtze River; it occupies a prominent riverside position within central Wuhan.

• Reconstruction and culture: The present building is a modern reconstruction dating from the 20th century; the site is famous for its literary associations, especially Tang and later Chinese poetry about the tower.
• Best time to visit: Best visited at sunset for views across the Yangtze River and the Wuhan cityscape; weekends and holidays can be very busy.

What to See #

• Main tower and terraces: The main multi-storey reconstructed tower contains viewing terraces on several levels and exhibition space about the tower's history and local culture.
• Exhibition halls: Ground-floor and lower galleries used as small museums and exhibition halls display historical inscriptions, local art and references to poems and legends connected to the tower.