The Chinese Ge also refers to a building of two or more storeys. Different from Chinese Lou, Ge has a door and windows only on the front side with the other three sides being solid walls. What’s more, Ge is usually enclosed by wooden balustrades or decorated with boards all around.

In ancient China, Ge was used for the storage of important articles and documents. While, in parks or some scenic places, it is built for enjoying the distant scenery.

In some great monasteries, Ge also refers to the tower that shelter the colossal statues. Well-known religious Ge including Guanyinge of Dulesi Temple in Jixian County of Hebei Province, Foxiangge in Beijing’s Summer Palace, Zhenwuge in Ronxian of Guangdong Province, etc.

Guanyinge of Dulesi Temple