Xijiang history · museum visit
Yuejiang Tower: a Ming courtyard and the Ye Ting memorial
Begin inside with the Ye Ting Independent Regiment, then step outside to read the compound's strategic position on the Xijiang.
Content updated 10 September 2026
Facts to check first
Plan the visit
- Admission
- Listed as free in the provincial museum directorySpecial exhibitions or access arrangements can still change.
- Opening
- Confirm museum hours before leavingA closure removes the main reason for a tightly timed visit.
- Getting there
- Use Yuejiang Tower / Ye Ting Memorial as the named POIThe site is on the Xijiang edge of old Duanzhou.
- Allow
- 1–1.5 hours insideAllow two hours or more when adding the riverfront.
01
Why visit Yuejiang Tower
The site is both a historic architectural compound and a key place in the story of the Ye Ting Independent Regiment.
Its river position makes military, transport and urban history easier to connect.
02
How to plan the visit
- 01
Confirm museum opening and current exhibition access.
- 02
Allow at least one hour inside before walking the exterior and riverfront.
- 03
Continue along one short Xijiang section toward Chongxi Pagoda.
What fits on the same day
- 01
Yuejiang Tower
- 02
Chongxi Pagoda for a short architecture-and-river continuation.
- 03
Old-city streets for dinner near the museum.
Museum first
Why an army headquarters occupied this riverside building
In November 1925, a National Revolutionary Army regiment was formed here under Ye Ting. It became the Fourth Army Independent Regiment in January 1926 and took part in the Northern Expedition later that year, during the first alliance between the Nationalists and Communists.
Use the exhibition to connect three things: recruitment in Zhaoqing, the regiment's movement north, and the Xijiang transport corridor that helped make the city a military base. Allow about 45–60 minutes for the displays, then another 20–30 for the courtyard and building.
Look up from the courtyard
Four wings, two floors and two different roof forms
The site began as an academy in 1431 and acquired the name Yuejiang Tower in 1641. It is a two-storey courtyard compound: east, west, north and south wings connect through galleries, rather than forming one tall observation tower.
Compare the north and south roofs, with double eaves and decorated ridges, against the simpler curved roofs of the east and west wings. The courtyard is the best place to see that contrast without rushing from one display room to the next.
Step outside
Follow the Xijiang riverfront towards Chongxi Pagoda
Leave the museum for Jiangbin Road and use a marked crossing to reach the river side. Use the riverside signs or a walking map to continue towards Chongxi Pagoda along the public waterfront. This extension is for the river and pagoda exterior; it does not depend on the tower being open inside.
Continue toward Chongxi Pagoda if daylight remains, or turn back into the old city for dinner. Either choice fits the riverfront visit better than adding another distant museum.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is inside Yuejiang Tower?
The site combines a historic architectural compound with displays on the Ye Ting Independent Regiment. Confirm current exhibition access before going.
How long should I spend at Yuejiang Tower?
Allow one to one and a half hours inside, then add time only if you continue along the Xijiang or through the old city.
Is Yuejiang Tower worth visiting for non-history travellers?
Treat it as a short architectural and riverfront stop, not a must-see museum. Travellers with very limited time can prioritise the wall or Star Lake instead.