An image of Kingkong Tower was photoed in 1972. [Photo/Liao Kefu]

Kingkong Tower(金刚塔）, which is located in Guandu Ancient Town(官渡古镇）of Kunming, was built in 1457 in China's Ming Dynasty. It is considered as a masterpiece in Yunnan's history of ancient towers.

At present, China has less than 10 Kingkong towers nationwide. Therefore, the Kingkong tower existing in Kunming, Yunnan province is naturally listed as one of the key cultural relics under elaborate protection of national government.

According to historical records, the original Kingkong tower was built up in main materials of spiral shells’ powders by smart Guandu people, for whom were accustomed to eating spiral shells whose shells piled up like a mountain at Guandu port in that era.

The name of Guandu means an official port around which villages developed very quickly and finally formed into a large-scale town that contained busy bazaars.

"The construction of the tower in Ming dynasty was for establishing merits and virtues in the Guandu ancient town, expressing prayers' wishes on prolonging life and stablishing public minds in the light of local customs since dominators of Yuan dynasty threw the society into wars and unstable situations." Bao Wenfeng, an officer of Guandu Relics Protection Department, said.

The Kingkong tower of Guandu Ancient Town, which underwent over 500-year changes in China's history, has important values to Yunnan's architecture and Buddhism arts. Although it experienced 5 earthquakes in the past, it still stands straight in southern Kunming now.

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(Editors: Cathy Chen, Lynn)