Located in Mawei district in Fuzhou, Fujian province, Luoxing Tower is a historical relic on the Maritime Silk Road. [Photo/ fjsen.com]

Located in Mawei district in Fuzhou, Fujian province, Luoxing Tower was included in the sites of historical relics of the Maritime Silk Road announced by the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage in 2020.

Built in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Luoxing Tower was originally a wooden tower. It was rebuilt into a pavilion-structured stone tower in 1624 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The 31.5-meter-tall tower emitted lights to guide ships at night. Thus, it was recognized globally as a vital navigation mark, as well as a landmark of the Minjiang River.

Hundreds of years ago, when foreign ships sailed to the sea near the mouth of the Minjiang River, crew members would see a tower standing on the top of a mountain that they called the "China Tower," which was later known as Luoxing Tower. Since then, letters sent to "Pagoda Anchorage" or "China Tower" would be delivered to Mawei district.

Luoxing Tower was listed as a national cultural relic protection unit in 2013. Luoxing Tower, along with Luoxing Tower Park, have become a key venue for various cultural events.

The tower is representative of the Ming Dynasty's (1368-1644) stone towers, with high research value in architecture and art.