In the suburbs of Shanghai, China, there stands an ancient tower known as Huzhu Tower, renowned as the "world's first leaning tower." This seven-story, octagonal brick-wood structure was built during the Northern Song Dynasty in the fourth year of the Yuanyou era (1079), reaching a height of approximately 30 meters. Despite one-third of the bricks on the bottom layer being missing and the tower relying on less than two-thirds of the base brick walls for support, it has withstood the test of time, storms, and earthquakes, leaning nearly 7 degrees to the southeast.
There are various theories regarding why Huzhu Tower leans but does not fall. One local legend suggests that a ginkgo tree planted by an immortal on the southeast side supports the tower with divine power. Another theory posits that the tower was built on an uneven foundation, with weaker soil on the southeast side and stronger soil on the northwest side, causing the tower to tilt in that direction. Additionally, the frequent southeast winds in the Zhejiang region may balance the tower's leaning force with wind pressure, allowing it to stand firm against the wind. Another explanation is that ancient craftsmen used a mixture of glutinous rice juice, tung oil, and lime to bond the bricks, creating a strong adhesive that has only grown more robust over time, combined with their exceptional building skills, making it difficult for the bricks to collapse.
In 1984, to preserve this invaluable millennium-old tower, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage organized a comprehensive restoration effort, discovering that although the tower leans, its foundation buried underground remains intact, which may be one of the reasons it stands despite its tilt.
