GUIDE OF VISIT
Hankou Water Tower, located at Zhongshan Avenue in Jianghan District, Wuhan, is a landmark building with profound historical significance. Constructed between 1908 and 1909 under the supervision of British engineer Moore, it was originally part of the commercial Hankou Water and Electricity Company (商办汉镇既济水电股份有限公司) . Standing at 41.32 meters, it was Wuhan’s tallest structure until 1984 . Designed in a distinctive octagonal shape with six main floors and a rooftop watchtower, the tower integrated water supply and firefighting surveillance functions, serving approximately 100,000 residents in its early days . Today, it is a national key cultural relic protection unit and a popular tourist attraction, housing a historical museum and surrounded by vibrant food streets.
Hankou Water Tower
Architectural Features
The tower’s octagonal design reflects traditional Chinese elements inspired by the I Ching (Book of Changes), symbolizing harmony and balance . Its structure combines granite blocks on the first floor and red-brick walls from the second floor upward, supported by steel frameworks and wooden staircases. A central steel pipe, extending from the foundation to the sixth-floor water tank (capacity: 1,477–1,500 tons), formed the core of its pressurized water distribution system . A 198-step wooden spiral staircase leads to the rooftop watchtower, which once housed a 500-kilogram bronze alarm bell (now lost) for fire alerts .
Historical Role
As part of Wuhan’s early modernization, the tower enabled the city to become China’s fourth urban center with tap water, replacing manual water-fetching from the Yangtze River . It also served as a firewatch hub: guards used coded bell strikes to indicate fire locations across nine districts . Notably, during the Anti-Japanese War (1938), patriots painted large-scale resistance slogans on its facade .
Cultural and Modern Significance
Throughout the 20th century, the tower witnessed Wuhan’s socio-political changes, from hosting revolutionary celebrations in 1949 to displaying public bulletins during the Cultural Revolution . After ceasing water supply in the 1980s, it transitioned into commercial use (e.g., shopping malls) but retained its industrial aesthetics . Recent conservation efforts (2016–2018) restored its red-brick exterior and repurposed it as the Hankou Water Tower History Museum, offering free exhibitions on its legacy . Adjacent to bustling food streets, it remains a nostalgic symbol of old Hankou and a fusion of historical and contemporary culture.
Legacy and Preservation
Listed as a National Key Cultural Relic (2006) and First-Class Industrial Heritage (2018), the tower exemplifies early 20th-century engineering and Wuhan’s industrial rise . Despite being overshadowed by modern skyscrapers, its octagonal silhouette and red-brick grandeur continue to captivate visitors, embodying the city’s resilience and heritage.
