Tianze Tower, whose name originates from Tianze Temple, has a rich history dating back to before the Song Dynasty. Initially, it was a temple dedicated to General Litai during the Five Dynasties and Wuyue period. The temple gained prominence during the Jiaxi years of the Southern Song Dynasty when Zhao Yu Huan, the prefect of Lin’an, successfully prayed for rain here. As a result, he was granted the title of Marquis Tianze, and the temple was awarded the plaque ‘Fuying’.
In the Wanli years of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Zhenzhi, the prefect, also prayed for rain and subsequently expanded the temple. The original temple featured notable landscapes such as Tianze Well, the rain-praying platform, and the twisted pine of Immortal Ge. Today, the reconstructed Tianze Tower preserves the remnants of the rain-praying culture that was once prevalent in Tianze Temple. Additionally, it has been designated as a specialized garden for gardenias, offering visitors a place to not only learn about ancient rain-praying customs and cultures but also to rest and enjoy the beauty of flowers.
The tower is open all day, every day of the year, welcoming visitors to explore its historical significance and natural beauty.
