World wonders: Porcelian Tower of Nanjing
14 Jun, 2010
The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing is situated in Nanjing, an ancient capital of China, on the southern banks of River Yangtze. An example of a Buddhist pagoda, the tower is being reconstructed following the destruction, it underwent following wars in the 19'" century.
With an octagonal base of about 95 ft in diameter; the tower stands nine stories tall, approximately 250 ft high. Designed by Emperor Yung-lo, it is said that every block in the Porcelain tower was dried out in the scorching sun during the day and in the night there were 140 famps to dry them out. The bricks were made of dazzling white porcelain that would shine in sunlight. Stoneware tiles with green, yellow, white, and brown glazes forming images of animals, landscapes, flowers, and bamboo were worked | into the porcelain panels.
Another feature that stood out in the I construction of the tower I is a large spire that cai from the eighth story all , the way up to the roof. The spiral staircase went up 130 steps.
In 1801, the top three ' stories of the tower wi knocked down by when a lightning struck atop the | monument. The tou soon saw it being J destroyed fully when the Taiping Rebels gained control of the city and engaged in warfare.
|
