Located on the central axis of the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum, the Phoenix Tower has three floors and was the highest building in the city during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)
Almost 30 years after closing, Phoenix Tower at the Shenyang Imperial Palace Museum recently welcomed its first group of tourists.
Built in the early 17th century, the tower once served as the conference room and grand banquet hall for Huangtaiji, the second emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and was then the tallest building in the city.
Located on the central axis of the museum, the 20.67-meter-tall tower was the highest building in the city during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is also a reflection of the Manchu habit of living in the highlands for the sake of military defense and overviews.
The Phoenix Tower closed in 1990 for safety reasons due to dangerous narrow stairs.
To help visitors better understand royal culture in the early Qing Dynasty, the museum recently reopened and allows 20 visitors a day to ensure safety and cultural protection.
