Yanqing Temple Pagoda is located 3 kilometers west of Songyang County in the village of Tatemple. The pagoda exhibits no signs of later repairs, making it a well-preserved Northern Song Dynasty original among the towers in the Jiangnan region. It features a multi-storied brick and wood structure with six sides and seven levels, hollow inside, and accessible to the top of the tower. The bracket sets and tile ridges are crafted with double-curl patterns, the eaves stretch out wide and gently, and the iron pagoda top features a scroll grass pattern with smooth curves. The pagoda walls are adorned with red painted celestial beings, barely recognizable. The plaque ‘Yanqing Temple Pagoda’ is handwritten by Mr. Sha Menghai. Upon entering the pagoda courtyard, a pebble path extends to the base of the pagoda, flanked by lush trees and blooming flowers. Ahead stands the sloping, multi-storied brick and wood structure, 38.32 meters high, with six sides and seven levels, hollow inside, each floor equipped with a flat seat and a corridor; the bracket sets and tile ridges are crafted with double-curl patterns, the eaves stretch out wide and gently, showing strong Tang Dynasty influence, and the iron pagoda top features a scroll grass pattern with smooth curves. The ‘Yanqing Temple Pagoda’ on the pavilion eaves plaque is written by the calligrapher Mr. Sha Menghai, adding an extraordinary aura and enhancing the ancient tower’s grandeur. After more than a thousand years of weathering, the pagoda has begun to lean. During the 1980s restoration, it was found that the Yanqing Temple Pagoda had already tilted 212 seconds, with a center distance of over a meter, earning it the nickname ‘The Leaning Tower of East.’ This adds another charm to the ancient tower. When walking around the flat seat corridor of the pagoda, near the northwest side, the tilt is quite noticeable. The red wooden corridors, dark blue ancient bricks, and the red painted celestial beings on the pagoda walls are barely recognizable. A gentle breeze passes, and the sound of clear bell rings can be heard. Originally, the ancient tower has overhanging eaves with heavy wind chimes hanging from the corners, which ring when the wind blows slightly stronger. The first floor of the ancient tower is high, with wide overhanging eaves, featuring four arched doors, allowing people to enter the tower from the arched doors, with each floor having arched doors and eaves. The second floor is slightly lower in height, and the subsequent floors are slightly lower in height. Starting from the sixth floor, there is a thick straight wooden rod inside the tower, with a bone-shaped wooden frame on top, extending to the iron pagoda top above. The ancient tower’s top is constructed by layers of brick contraction, with an ingenious structure and exquisite craftsmanship. The entire text is open all year round from 08:30 to 17:00. Preferential policy supplement: 1. Free policy: Children under 1.2 meters (not including) are free of charge, active-duty military personnel with officer’s ID are free of charge. 2. Preferential policy: Elderly people aged 70 (including) and above can purchase scenic area preferential tickets with an elderly card or ID card. 3. The above information is for reference only; please refer to the Yanqing Temple Pagoda scenic area’s disclosure on the day for specific information.
Yanqing Temple Pagoda
Yanqing Temple Pagoda is located 3 kilometers west of Songyang County in the village of Tatemple. Th[...]
