The Yellow Crane Tower (Pagoda) was originally built in 223 A.D during the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). The tower has been destroyed during many successive dynasties, and rebuilt each time. The current tower was finished in 1985. It is based on Quing dynasty pictures of the tower present then, though it is somewhat broader at the base than the original for greater stability. This modern version has an elevator which is great to take to the top, then wander down through the five levels, each of which is decorated with a slightly different theme.
The tower was legendarily built on a site that had been a wine shop. A priest painted a magic crane on the wall to thank the keeper for the kindness of a couple of free drinks. The magic crane helped the wine business. Later the monk returned and rode the crane to heaven and the tower was built in his honor.