File photo: The Bell Tower in Rugao in the 1990s. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Rugao in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province, plans to rebuild the Bell Tower, a famous building in the ancient urban area of Rugao.

The Bell Tower was built in 1929 on the site of a watchtower, which was constructed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), to commemorate Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China's democratic revolution who led the campaign to end the rule of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

A rendering of the Bell Tower. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

The five-story building integrates both Chinese and western architectural styles and is 16.22 meters tall.

After soliciting advice from experts, the Rugao government decided to rebuild the Bell Tower at its current site and imitate its previous appearance.

A rendering of the Bell Tower. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

Rebuilding the Bell Tower is a part of efforts to preserve Rugao's history, as the building has stood through many historic events.

As an ancient city with a history of more than 1,600 years, Rugao is preparing to apply for status as a national historical and cultural city. Protecting its ancient urban area, including the Bell Tower, is meant to help improve Rugao's image and boost its tourism and cultural industries.