At No. 31 Jiefang Road, fifty meters west of the ancient Dingzhong Gate, a massive trapezoidal platform of rammed earth and brick rises eight meters above the Fancheng city wall base. This is the Shuixing Terrace. Originally designed during the Eastern Jin Dynasty by the astrologer and writer Guo Pu, this structure served as a watchtower to guard the city against fires.

Human hands have repeatedly reshaped this high ground. Following military destruction, builders reconstructed the temple in 1540. In 1735, Emperor Yongzheng brushed the characters for the "Shuixing Terrace" plaque. Between 1739 and 1884, workers completed five rounds of expansions. In 1901, the county magistrate Li Zuyin oversaw the last major reconstruction, leaving his name carved on the main roof beam. By 1950, the halls housed a public health clinic, before finally transitioning into the Xiangzhou District Museum.

The architecture reflects a deliberate dialogue with nature. The south-facing front and back halls feature traditional hard mountain roofs. Curved eave wings sweep upward, while stone dragon-head spouts project from the terrace edges. During heavy summer downpours, these spouts channel rainwater away from the timber frames, spraying water into the air. On the eastern wall, quiet bullet holes from past conflicts remain visible alongside old observation windows.

Today, the timber-framed interior holds 13,419 cultural relics, including 140 rare national treasures. Visitors climbing the stone steps can feel the cool, dense brickwork underfoot, standing where watchmen once scanned the rooftops for smoke.