The first tower was planned by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming family of rulers in the early 1400s. It was built under his grandson the Xuande Emperor as part of his work on the Great Bao'en Temple between 1428 and 1431. It was 30meters (97feet) high and had 9 floors. The top of the tower had a golden pineapple. This first porcelain tower was destroyed by the Taipings in 1856.