Where the name comes from
Western Hunan has an old phrase, “nine ridges, eighteen stockades, seventy-two wonder houses”. The ridges are the mountain spines, the stockades are the villages, the houses are the stilted Tujia buildings, and seventy-two simply means “a great many”. So the name is about the houses, not the number of floors. The arch through the middle of the tower is a nod to Tianmen Cave.
After dark
It is open by day, but it comes alive after dark. As night falls there is a lamp-lighting ceremony and the whole tower and street light up at once. From early evening, folk performances follow one another on the squares, such as the Tujia hand-waving dance and bridal lament songs, with fire-twirling after dark, and visitors report the programme running past ten at night. The lights and the square performances are included in the ticket; the separately charged extras are single attractions such as the rock museum and the theatre.
How to fit it in
- When to go. Go in at about four in the afternoon, walk round, eat something, and wait for dark, the lights and the shows. Entry after 16:30 counts as the evening session, ¥88 for adults. Entry before 16:30 is cheaper, at the price shown at the gate, and you can stay until the evening shows end and the site closes, so you see the lights and the shows either way.
- Which night. It is in the city, on the same side as Tianmen Mountain. From Wulingyuan a special trip adds more than an hour of driving. It fits best on your first night in Zhangjiajie, or the night you sleep in the city before Tianmen Mountain.
- How long. One to two hours is plenty, and most of that goes on eating and watching the shows.
- The whole tower in one photograph. Visitors take it from the footbridge across the road, which needs no ticket.
- Who pays less. Children and seniors pay less.
Prices last checked October 2026; they change — treat them as a guide, not a quote.
Quick answers
Is 72 Qilou an ancient building?
No. It is a new complex that opened in 2022, built in the style of Tujia stilted houses.
When is the best time to go?
Go in at about four in the afternoon, see the lights and shows after dark, and stay into the evening.
How much is the ticket?
Adults entering after 16:30 pay ¥88. Entry before 16:30 is cheaper, at the price shown at the gate, and you can stay until the evening shows end.
Do the shows cost extra?
The lights and square performances are included in the ticket; a few single attractions charge separately.
Is it far from Tianmen Mountain?
Both are on the city side. It fits best on a night you sleep in the city.
How long should I allow?
One to two hours.