White Crane Tower

White Crane Tower was first constructed in 992 AD, the 10th year of the Tonghe reign of Emperor Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty. Empress Dowager Xiao Chuo ordered Prime Minister Han Derang to build the tower in Changping Fort, the settlement of the Xiao clan (present-day Faku). The project was suspended due to successive wars and unrest and remained unfinished for a thousand years without any renovation.

Reconstruction of White Crane Tower started on April 23, 2012. It stands on King Xi Ridge in Faku, where the Changbai Mountain Range meets the Yinshan Mountain Range, at an altitude of 151.5 metres. Facing the Liao River, the tower covers a land area of 100,000 square metres. The main building occupies 4,916 square metres and reaches a height of 51.9 metres, 0.5 metres taller than the Yellow Crane Tower, presenting magnificent momentum.

The three Chinese characters "White Crane Tower" on the main horizontal plaque were carefully compiled from regular script characters extracted from stone steles and epitaphs of important Liao officials after repeated discussion by experts and scholars, fully demonstrating the unique charm of Liao culture.

The main structure follows the architectural style of the Liao Dynasty. The eight-sided design symbolizes the Eight Khitan Tribes of the Liao Empire. The central hall features thematic artistic reliefs depicting the legends of White Crane Tower. Other floors house the Liao Culture Museum, exhibiting Liao historical records, cultural relics, poems, calligraphy and paintings. The surrounding verandas allow visitors to overlook the splendid northern scenery. Plaques and couplets are mounted under the eaves and on the pillars. White Crane Tower has become a landmark cultural site with the most authentic Liao architectural style in northern China, known as "The No.1 Tower of the Great Liao Dynasty".