At the heart of Xiangyang Ancient City, Zhaoming Terrace stands as a monument to literature and memory. Also known as Zhonggu Lou, this elevated gatehouse straddles the southern end of North Street. It was first built during the Southern and Northern Dynasties to honor Xiao Tong, the Liang Dynasty Crown Prince Zhaoming. Here, the prince gathered scholars to compile the Zhaoming Wenxuan, China's earliest surviving anthology of fine literature. Originally named Wenxuan Lou, the tower was renamed Shannan Dongdao Lou during the Tang Dynasty.

The historical tower was demolished in 1973. Between 1990 and 1992, local builders reconstructed a grand replica on the original site. They raised a massive green-brick base, piercing it with a central stone archway measuring 4.5 meters high and 3.5 meters wide. Visitors walking through this cool stone passage can feel the physical weight of the structure above. Atop the brick platform sits a double-eaved, hip-and-gable roof pavilion. This central tower rises 15 meters high, featuring five bays and flanked by four side rooms to the east and west. On the southwest, traditional bell and drum towers once marked the daily rhythms of the city.

For decades, this monument housed the collections of the Xiangyang Museum, which was founded in 1951. In May 2024, the museum moved its primary collection of over 73,000 relics—including Eastern Zhou bronzeware and a Han Dynasty bronze horse—to a new campus on Shengli Street. Today, the restored Zhaoming Terrace serves as a specialized regional history hall.

Inside, the second floor houses "The Glory of Zhaoming" gallery, dedicated to the prince's literary legacy. The third floor features the "Chronicle of a Thousand Years of the City" exhibition, tracing the urban evolution of Xiangyang. On the fourth floor, visitors step onto an open observation platform. From this high vantage point, the wind carries the sounds of modern commerce from North Street below, offering a panoramic view of a living ancient city.