Chen Tianming's 11-story hand-built tower, despite its rickety appearance and ongoing demolition threats, has become a unique draw in southwestern China, attracting curious visitors from far and wide.
From Destruction to Attraction: The Tower that Refuses to Fall
From Destruction to Attraction: The Tower that Refuses to Fall
A Chinese man's defiance of demolition orders has turned his precarious home into a tourist spectacle in Guizhou.
In the rural corners of Guizhou Province, China, a peculiar sight looms against the backdrop of verdant fields: the 11-story tower home of Chen Tianming. Defying multiple demolition orders intended to take down his unconventional structure, Chen has raised a living monument that many liken to a whimsical Dr. Seuss creation.
Visitors flock to this once-ignored site in droves, captivated by the sight of the rickety edifice that seems to balance precariously among the landscape. The exterior, made of dark red wood, gives way to rooms that shrink in size as they reach toward the sky, providing an almost fantastical appearance that draws curious onlookers from afar.
Stepping inside this ramshackle tower reveals even more surprises. Utilized utility poles brace the ceilings, while a tangled web of wires hangs precariously from beams overhead. Rainwater is collected in giant buckets to aid the structure's frail support system, and steep, hand-built ladders connect the various levels—each devoid of safety railings. Treading carefully through this unique abode, Chen effortlessly climbs to the higher floors that include cozy nooks for reading and a sunlit tearoom.
At 43 years old, Chen has accomplished what many deemed impossible—transforming a site of potential demolition into a thriving attraction. "They say the house is shabby, that it could be blown down by wind at any time," Chen remarked during a recent visit, reflecting on the precarious nature of his home. Yet, as he gazed at the standardized housing structures where his neighbors reside, it became clear that Chen's creative spirit had birthed something special in defiance of adversity.
Tourists, intrigued by the story behind the tower and its unconventional builder, now bring life and commerce to this previously quiet corner of Guizhou, turning what was once seen as a danger into a celebrated landmark of resilience and creativity.
