Shenweilou

[Kim]

Originally Posted by PWCCA

Wow, this tower looks fantastic. This may be a stupid question but are there many towers like this with the tiled roof still intact?

No stupid questions here

Shenweilou is probably a one of a kind tower, but apart from that I can only recall seeing one tower in eastern Hebei (and I've seen a lot of them) with an almost intact upper construction. That was in Weiziyu:

[PWCCA]

Originally Posted by Kim

No stupid questions here

Shenweilou is probably a one of a kind tower, but apart from that I can only recall seeing one tower in eastern Hebei (and I've seen a lot of them) with an almost intact upper construction. That was in Weiziyu:

Wow, looks fantastic. I would love to photograph this one

[chinoook]

Originally Posted by Kim

Shenweilou is probably a one of a kind tower, but apart from that I can only recall seeing one tower in eastern Hebei (and I've seen a lot of them) with an almost intact upper construction. That was in Weiziyu:

Again impressed by your photograph. Am I right to assume the "enemy" side (north) on the right?


-chinoook

[Kim]

Originally Posted by chinoook

Again impressed by your photograph. Am I right to assume the "enemy" side (north) on the right?


-chinoook

Actually the wall is north-south in this area, but it is correct that the right side (west) is the enemy side.

Here's another pic of the same tower as seen from the south side.

[Kim]

This is the small house on the top (any name for this kind of construction?).

[chinoook]

Next question: The small holes on the upper corners seem to be some kind of window. Right? And what about the even smaller holes beneath them? What was their purpose?


-chinoook

[Kim]

Originally Posted by chinoook

Next question: The small holes on the upper corners seem to be some kind of window. Right? And what about the even smaller holes beneath them? What was their purpose?


-chinoook

I'm guessing one window for observation, ventilation and shooting arrows and one small hole for dropping stones and other things on the enemy. Although it must have been a bit inconvenient to have them on top of each other and use at the same time.

[chinoook]

Originally Posted by Kim

I'm guessing one window for observation, ventilation and shooting arrows and one small hole for dropping stones and other things on the enemy. Although it must have been a bit inconvenient to have them on top of each other and use at the same time.

And they are on either side, "enemy" side as well as "home" side. Observation is probable, dropping things only about half. Maybe even aesthetic reasons, since we are in China ...


-chinoook

[Kim]

Originally Posted by chinoook

And they are on either side, "enemy" side as well as "home" side. Observation is probable, dropping things only about half. Maybe even aesthetic reasons, since we are in China ...


-chinoook

These are not found on every tower, and if a tower is regarded as a small fortress it makes sense to put them on the friendly side as well.

[Kim]

Originally Posted by PWCCA

Wow, looks fantastic. I would love to photograph this one

Not very difficult to get to, but the rest of the wall in this area is truly dangerous