Xihaizi Park is located in Tongzhou District, Beijing, on the northwest side of the north end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, covering an area of 210 acres, with nearly 80 acres of water surface. The park was initially formed in 1936 and expanded in 1985.
The park not only boasts modern entertainment facilities but also well-preserved cultural relics and historical sites. The renowned Ran Deng Buddha’s Sarira Pagoda, said to house the sarira of Ran Deng Buddha, is situated within Xihaizi Park. The pagoda dates back to the Northern Zhou period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, over 1300 years ago. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has been renovated through various dynasties.
The Ran Deng Buddha’s Sarira Pagoda, renovated in the 35th year of the Qing Kangxi era, stands at 56 meters tall with a circumference of 38.4 meters and a diameter of 11.6 meters. It is a brick and wood structure with a solid, multi-eave design, featuring eight sides and thirteen levels, adorned with 2232 bronze bells that produce a pleasant sound when the wind blows. Ancients praised it with the verse ‘A pagoda’s shadow recognizes Tongzhou’. The Ran Deng Buddha’s Sarira Pagoda is a symbol of ancient Tongzhou.The park is open all year round, accessible 24 hours a day.
