Bodhi Vajra Pagoda is located at the entrance of the Vajra Pagoda Community, on Guanyin Rock, and is part of the ‘Mountain City’s Third Step Path’ that starts from Nanjimen and ends at the Great Auditorium. It was constructed to suppress evil and soothe souls, and is the only pagoda in mainland China built under the personal supervision of a Tibetan living Buddha. The construction of the Bodhi Vajra Pagoda was guided by the Living Buddha Luona, and upon completion, the inscription was written by the Buddhist scholar Zhang Xinruo.
In 1930, after the completion of the Vajra Pagoda, Luona Living Buddha led dozens of lamas here to chant sutras and pray for the repose of souls, a grand and solemn occasion. Gradually, the ‘Qixinggang Haunted’ incident became a classic phrase for Chongqing locals toasting and playing finger games, and was no longer mentioned. The pagoda is surrounded by a low wall, preventing close approach, and can only be admired from afar. This pagoda is a typical Tibetan-style pagoda that also incorporates some European elements. The entire text of the ‘Buddha Amitabha Sutra’ is inscribed on the pagoda, with the four corners featuring European Ionic volute columns. Above are the horizontal inscribed words ‘Bodhi Vajra Pagoda’, followed by a lama pagoda, and the top is a pendent cloud-style flower wheel, with a three-tiered circular treasure top that is nearly 3 meters high. The unique architectural style that combines Han, Tibetan, and Western elements has made the Bodhi Vajra Pagoda a mysterious treasure site in the writings of authors. The best-selling novel ‘The Missing Shangqing Temple’ mentions treasures hidden inside the pagoda, with the phrase ‘Haunted graves are not peaceful, Bodhi suppresses evil and has many treasures’ attracting hundreds of people to search for treasures here. However, according to historical records, the Vajra Pagoda is a solid stone pagoda with no treasures inside. The pagoda is open to the public all day, every day from January 1st to December 31st.
