The thousand-year-old iron tower is a hundred-year-old river
Yang Dongning
The majestic thousand-year-old iron tower has witnessed the vicissitudes and glory of the century-old river. It stands quietly on the side of the campus of Heda University, silently witnessing the dreams and pursuits of the students of Heda University. The landscape of the tower park is upgraded and renovated, and it is open to the public free of charge, which makes the tower park shine again and integrates with Henan University and becomes a unique landscape.
On September 25, 2012, Henan University celebrated its 100th anniversary. As of December 2023, the university has 40 colleges (teaching and research departments) and offers 92 undergraduate majors, covering 13 disciplines such as literature, history, philosophy, economics, management, law, science, engineering, medicine, agriculture, education, art, and interdisciplinary disciplines. Under the attention of the iron tower, the century-old famous school has gradually developed and expanded, and now there are Minglun Community (Old Campus) in Kaifeng City, Jinming Campus in Kaifeng City and Longzihu Campus in Zhengzhou City. Among the nearly 500,000 alumni of Henan University, there are 56 academicians and faculty members, and nearly 150 leading cadres at or above the provincial and ministerial level. Out of Feng Youlan, Hou Jingru, Liang Guanglie, Zhou Erfu, Yao Xueyin, Deng Tuo, Wang Liqun, Zhao Jiuzhang and other well-known alumni, these alumni have made outstanding achievements in their respective fields, adding luster to Henan University.
The iron tower standing in the eastern half of the tower park was built in 1049 A.D. (the first year of the Northern Song Dynasty Emperor), and is one of the first national key protected cultural relics announced in China in 1961, known as "the first tower in the world". The iron tower is 55.88 meters high, octagonal thirteen layers, so the place was once Kaibao Temple, also known as "Kaibao Temple Tower", and because of the brown glazed bricks all over the body, mixed like iron casting, from the Yuan Dynasty the folk called it "Iron Tower", in more than 900 years, after 37 earthquakes, 18 gales, 15 floods, and stand majestically.
Today, the scenery is picturesque and beautiful. The thousand-year-old iron tower has witnessed the vicissitudes of time, and the hundred-year-old river has given birth to countless talents. On the campus of Heda, the quaint architecture and modern facilities complement each other. The students shuttled through it, with visions and expectations for the future. This is a temple of knowledge and the starting point of dreams.
Under the iron tower, it is the figure of the students of Heda University. With a thirst for knowledge, they worked hard in this fertile soil of scholarship. The campus is adjacent to the Eiffel Tower Park, and this unique atmosphere makes people feel the blend of history and modernity. Whenever the morning sun shines on the tower, the golden light seems to give the students endless strength. They hurried by, with a vision for the future. In the classroom, they listen to the teacher's teachings and write down every knowledge point with a pen, and in the library, they are immersed in the sea of books and explore unknown territories.
The days here are full and beautiful. Occasionally, they will also take a stroll in the tower park to feel the tranquility and beauty of nature. Maybe it's relaxing in the greenery, watching the frolicking of waterfowl by the lake, or maybe it's talking about each other's ideals with friends in a corner. They have left the footprints of their youth on this land, and they have also gained knowledge and wisdom. Just like that towering iron tower, it has survived wind and rain, and it is still standing.
Standing under the tower, I felt the weight of history and the inheritance of culture. It towers into the sky and stands tall, as if telling a story of a thousand years. Students absorb the nutrients of knowledge here and bask in the glory of history. In this land that combines a thousand-year-old iron tower and a century-old river, I seem to see the intersection of history and the future. The students shoulder the mission of inheritance and innovation, and their efforts and struggles will write new glories for this land.
There is still a long way to go, and there may be ups and downs and setbacks, but I believe that these students, who are known as the "iron tower brand", will be like the iron tower, firmly pursuing their dreams and writing their own wonderful lives.