Zhenyuan Building (also named Jingyuan Building) is called the
Drum-Tower by the local people. It is built in imitation of Xi'an
Bell Tower. It is square in the surface and is erected on a brick
altar, which is 32 meters in length and 9 meters in height. It is
more than 30 meters from the pedestal to the top of the building.
The building is a three-floor turriform architecture with cornices
and rake angles. The building is a traditional Chinese architecture
with elegant and solemn carved beams and painted rafters. There is
a Cross Cave under the building, which leads to the four
directions. Passengers and small-sized vehicles are able to pass
through.
There are four engraved steles embedded above the gates of the
cave, that is "Xu Sheng (Sunrise) on the east", "Gu Cheng"
(Merchant City) on the west, "Ying Xun" (Facing fume) on the south,
and "Zhen Yuan" (Guarding Lands afar) on the north. Upon the
building also hang four steles. The eastern one writes "Golden City
and Spring Rain".
The western one writes "Jade Pass and Moon in Dawn". The southern
one writes "Sunny Day after Snowing in Mount Qilian". The north one
writes "Residence Stretches to Old Pastureland". The completely
preserved stone tablet recording the reconstruction of Ganzhou
Drawbridge and Zhenyuan Building stands in the north of the
building.
If the tourist goes there by self-drive car, he/she can first drive
to Nanguan after leaving the express highway and entering the
downtown area of Zhangye. Then drive straight to the north for
about two bus stops, and Zhenyuan Building will come into sight. If
the tourist goes there by bus, he/she can get off at the South Bus
Station, walk east for about half the bus stop, then walk towards
north for another two bus stops and will come to the destination.
If the tourist goes there by self-drive car, he/she can first drive
to Nanguan after leaving the express highway and entering the
downtown area of Zhangye. Then drive straight to the north for
about two bus stops, and Zhenyuan Building will come into sight. If
the tourist goes there by bus, he/she can get off at the South Bus
Station, walk east for about half the bus stop, then walk towards
north for another two bus stops and will come to the destination.How to Get to there?
