Mingjian 921 Leaning Tower

A power transmission tower knocked on an angle by the devastating 921 Earthquake and left as a memorial to the disaster. Standing 40 meters tall and tilted 25 degrees northward, this Taiwan Power Company transmission tower (台電057號電塔) became an unexpected monument to the destructive power of the Chelungpu Fault (車籠埔斷層). There is a small park here and an informational plaque. It is officially known as Nantou 921 Earthquake Leaning Tower Memorial Site (南投九二一地震斜塔紀念地), and informally the 921 Leaning Tower Recreation Area (921斜塔遊憩區).

Date CapturedAugust 3rd, 2017 at 08:41 UTCCameraNIKON D3100LensAF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IIApertureƒ / 9Shutter Speed1/320 secFocal Length18.0 mmISO200Exposure Value14.7 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedSeptember 30th, 2023 at 07:12 UTCCameraDC-S5M2LensLUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6Apertureƒ / 6.3Shutter Speed1/250 secFocal Length22.0 mmISO100Exposure Value13.3 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

Date CapturedSeptember 30th, 2023 at 07:14 UTCCameraDC-S5M2LensLUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6Apertureƒ / 5.6Shutter Speed1/200 secFocal Length27.0 mmISO100Exposure Value12.6 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

The leaning tower’s preservation was not without controversy. Initially, Taiwan Power Company sought to rebuild the tower due to safety concerns, particularly given its proximity to a gas station and nearby hydroelectric infrastructure. However, local authorities advocated for its preservation as a memorial, leading to extensive negotiations in late 1999. By January 2000, an agreement was reached to reinforce the structure while maintaining its tilted position.

Date CapturedApril 13th, 2015 at 10:25 UTCCameraNIKON D5200LensAF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G EDApertureƒ / 3.8Shutter Speed1/60 secFocal Length24.0 mmISO250Exposure Value9.8 EVOriginal Size3600 × 2400

The site was mostly overgrown and abandoned by the mid-2000s, but funds were allocated to develop a memorial park around the tower in 2007. A decade later, the township office added the prominent “Brilliant Mingjian” (亮麗名間) characters that now adorn the structure, illuminating them at night to act as a landmark for passing motorists.