This is the roof of Yellow Crane Tower built in Qing’s Tongzhi Period. It is placed 92 m due east of the tower and 185 m west of White Cloud Pavilion. In the late autumn of the 7th Year (1868) of Qing’s Tongzhi Period, Head of Wuchang Prefecture Huang Changfu presided over the reconstruction project and cast this roof. This hollow-inside bronze roof features 3.4 m top height, 1.8 m bottom diameter, 4 cm wall thickness and 2 ton or so weight. It has three sections: pyramid-topped and vase-shaped roof; a gourd composed of two orbs; bottom lotus throne.
In the 10th Year (1884) of Guangxu Period, Yellow Crane Tow was all burnt down except this bronze roof. Since then, it had been discarded till its top was removed in the “mass iron and steel making” in 1958. It is said such act happened as the offender wanted to melt it down for this purpose. Later the lost part was recovered, but the roof had been ruined. And in 1981, three thieves sawed off the 62 cm diameter small head from the thin waist and smashed it into tiny pieces for realization. The two continuous disasters led to the historical testimony’s serious destruction.
In December 1984, Wuhan Mechanic Ding Yi Institute’s Qin Hangan, Kong Limin, Wu Changmao and Xiong Shuiqing undertook the task of restoring the original bronze roof based on the remnants. In January of 1985 after more than one month’s effort, they finally worked out the roof’s small head by collaborating with Qingshan Shipyard. Then the work team restored the original look of the small head by applying heating, cooling, constant temperature processing and other state-of-the-art techniques. In April of the same year, they assembled and welded old and new parts, such that the “Bronze Roof” finally returned to form after it got destroyed twice.
The bronze roof has a beautiful appearance with flowing lines and simple patterns. Hit its top and you will hear a loud sound. A cylindrical stone pedestal of 1.5 m height and 2 m diameter was erected for the sake of better appreciation and protection. A circle of carved balustrades were placed 1 m outside the pedestal. These rails are of decorative aesthetics and roof protection.
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Scan focuses on the yellow crane tower.