Bell Tower Scenic Area

Located on Bell Tower Square in downtown Jingjiang, the scenic area covers a total area of 6,600 square meters and boasts the densest concentration of cultural relics and historic sites dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties in Jingjiang. The clear, sweet water of the Four-Eyes Well, the towering Longevity Archway, the antique Bell Tower and the exquisitely crafted Kuixing Pavilion are quietly nestled among green trees and lawns. Standing beside these ancient landmarks, visitors can truly experience the perfect integration of the age-old morning bells and evening drums with the modern city.

Among all attractions in the Bell Tower scenic zone, the most marvelous sight is the Four-Eyes Well. Constructed in the 10th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1637 AD), it is said that a monk named Liaofan arrived in Jingjiang while traveling to solicit alms. Starving and on the verge of death, he was rescued by local townsfolk. To repay their life-saving kindness, Monk Liaofan traveled far and wide to raise funds and dug this well for the villagers. The Four-Eyes Well stands as the finest testament to the kindness and goodwill of Jingjiang’s people. It features four eye-shaped well openings, hence its popular name. Its ingenious architectural structure has long fascinated visitors. If you gaze calmly at the water surface, you will witness the wondrous scene of "one person mirrored as five", with your figure reflected in all four openings. Should you let out a loud shout, thunderous echoes surge from deep within the well, just like the roar of a lion.

As centuries pass and times change, deep grooves worn by well ropes mark the hexagonal bluestone curb of the well, a clear sign of its long history. For hundreds of years, fresh spring water has continuously flowed from the well without drying up.

Adjacent to the Four-Eyes Well stands the Bell Tower, a Provincial-level Cultural Relic Protection Unit. Square-shaped with two stories, it features delicate and refined construction. Right in the center inside the tower gate rests a stone stele borne by a carved stone tortoise, which kneels with its head held high, effortlessly supporting the heavy stone slab. Carved on the front face of the stele is an image of Guanyin Bodhisattva. She holds a willow branch, stands atop the blue waves of the South China Sea, and wears plain white robes, radiating an ethereal grace. Behind her stands a young boy carrying a gourd on his back, full of childlike innocence. Only a few simple strokes bring the Buddhist statue vividly to life, a masterwork achievable only by a top-tier artistic master. The reverse side of the stele bears Record of the Bell Tower at Chongsheng Temple, an essay composed by Zhang Bingduo, county magistrate during the Longqing reign of the Ming Dynasty, detailing the construction process and completion date of the Bell Tower. The inscription was penned by Zhou Tianqiu, a renowned painter and calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty, in fluid, elegant regular script seal carving. Judging by the worn, peeling characters on the stele, the Guanyin carving on its front side is also believed to be his creation. The Guanyin Stone Stele was designated a Provincial-level Cultural Relic Protection Unit by the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province in 1993.

Right next to these clusters of ancient buildings lies a modern leisure square. At its center sits a circular dry fountain spanning roughly 60 to 70 square meters, which doubles as a dance floor on ordinary days with spectator seating arranged around it. During holidays, the fountain shifts into varied synchronized patterns following the rhythm of music. Illuminated by colorful lights, it fills the whole space with a joyful and peaceful atmosphere. The square is also an ideal spot for roller skating, where children glide freely on skates with spirited energy. Surrounding the square, stone-carved lamp posts, grassy slopes, neatly planted rows of trees, flower beds and stone benches form a tranquil zone for visitors to rest and unwind.