Jiaxiu Lou (First Scholar's Tower) was; along with the Fuyu Bridge; originally built in 1598 (Ming era). The bridge is used to reach the three-storey tower.

The tower was built to encourage students and intellectuals in their studies towards the Ming imperial examinations.

Guiyang is the capital of China's Guizhou province and is situated on the east of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau; and on the north bank of the Nanming River; a branch of the Wu River. It was first constructed as early as 1283 AD during the Yuan Dynasty. It was originally called Shunyuan (??); meaning obeying the Yuan (the Mongol rulers).