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Chinesischer Turm

About

The Chinesischer Turm, rising 25 metres above the treetops of Munich’s Englischer Garten, is one of the park’s most recognisable landmarks. Built in 1789/90 by Baptist Lechner to a design inspired by London’s Kew Gardens pagoda, it blends exotic flair with Bavarian tradition. Originally an observation tower, it has been rebuilt several times, most recently in 1952 after wartime destruction. At its base lies Munich’s second-largest beer garden, seating around 7,000 guests beneath shady chestnut trees, where brass bands play from the tower’s upper levels. The site is also home to the annual Kocherlball, a dawn dance recalling 19th-century gatherings of the city’s servants, and hosts a charming Christmas market in winter. Though the tower itself is closed to the public for safety reasons, its lively surroundings offer a quintessential Munich experience, combining history, music, and conviviality in the heart of the city’s green oasis.

Munich Germany

Location

The Chinesischer Turm (Chinese Tower) is located in the southern part of Munich’s Englischer Garten, at Englischer Garten 3, in the district of Lehel. This 25-meter-high wooden pagoda-style tower, built in 1789-1790 and reconstructed after WWII, is a prominent landmark of the Englischer Garten. It is surrounded by Munich’s second-largest beer garden with about 7,000 seats, offering a vibrant Bavarian atmosphere especially during weekends when brass bands play traditional music. Nearby attractions include the Monopteros temple and the Rumfordhaus. The area is accessible by several public transport options: bus lines 54 and 154 stop right at Chinesischer Turm, tram line 18 stops at nearby Tivolistraße, and the closest U-Bahn station is Giselastraße, about a ten-minute walk away through the park. The Chinese Tower area is popular for both locals and tourists seeking relaxation, traditional Bavarian beer garden culture, and picturesque natural surroundings within the city.

Chinesischer Turm

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