Wang’er Mountain Pagoda

“Wang’er Mountain is located two kilometers east of Xiongyue Town, Yingkou City. The mountain rises steeply from the plain, standing 82 meters high with an elevation of 106 meters. At its summit stands a Tibetan-style blue brick pagoda named Wang’er Pagoda, built in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. From a distance, it resembles a mother standing on the mountaintop, keeping watch over the sea day and night, hoping for her son’s return from afar. Wang’er Mountain is a famous mountain in southern Liaoning, renowned for its beautiful legend of maternal love. It is celebrated worldwide as a theme of motherly affection, and is a first-class tourist attraction in Yingkou City, listed in the ‘Dictionary of Scenic Spots in China.’”

Wang’er Mountain Pagoda is a cultural heritage protection unit of Liaoning Province.

Wang’er Mountain Pagoda is located atop Wang’er Mountain in Wang’er Village, Xiongyue Town, Bayuquan District. It is a Tibetan-style brick pagoda. Constructed from blue bricks, the base has a diameter of 4 meters. The entire pagoda consists of six parts: the base, pedestal, body, upper section, top, and sand rod, standing approximately 11 meters tall.

The base is octagonal, 4 meters in diameter, and 0.35 to 0.5 meters high. Its uneven height is caused by the irregularities of the underlying rocks, and it is built with plain blue bricks. The lower part of the pedestal is also octagonal, 2 meters high, and consists of a base plate, waist molding, upper rim, and lotus petals. The body of the pagoda is built upon the lotus pedestal, shaped like a date pit, with a slight constriction near the upper part. On the front facing south, beneath the bulging midsection, there is a small arched Buddha niche. Originally, a deity statue was enshrined inside. The upper section is eight-pillared, with eaves extending outward, resembling an ancient crown. The pagoda top is formed by two iron cauldrons placed one upside down over the other. The sand rod is an iron spear-like decoration, standing upright at the center inside the upper iron cauldron. The blue bricks used in the construction measure 33 cm in length, 17 cm in width, and 7 cm in thickness. The white lime used for jointing is about 1 cm thick. Based on the structure of the pagoda and the materials used, it is believed to be a Tibetan-style pagoda built during the Liao or Jin dynasty.

According to Volume One, “Rites,” page 74, of the “Gai Ping County Annals,” under the section on historical sites and scenic spots: “Wang’er Mountain is high, and at its peak stands a pagoda, with a stone bridge at its root.” Additionally, page 71 of the same volume, under the section on ancient bridges, states: “The Immortal Bridge is located 50 li south of the city, behind Wang’er Mountain. It is formed by a ridge of gravel that has solidified into a rocky outcrop. Some enthusiastic individuals carved out a chamber, creating a hollow structure resembling a bridge. Inside the cave, there are carved chessboards, stone chairs, and other objects. During summer and autumn, visitors often come here for leisure.” Locals refer to the stone bridge as a “stone shed.” The shape of the bridge closely resembles a short rainbow, but the chessboard and stone chairs are no longer present. On the cliff to the northeast of the mountain, halfway up the slope, there is a naturally formed rock that, when viewed from a certain angle and distance, strikingly resembles the head of an ancient woman — her hairstyle and facial features clearly distinguishable. It is known as the “Stone Head of a Woman.”

Because the brick pagoda, when viewed from afar, closely resembles an elderly woman with her hand raised, gazing westward toward the sea, a local legend arose: “Long ago, there was a scholar who attempted to cross the sea by boat to take the imperial examinations. Unfortunately, he encountered a storm and perished in the ocean. His mother, yearning for his return, climbed the mountain daily to look out for him, but he never came back. In the end, the old woman died on the mountaintop.” The brick pagoda is said to be the incarnation of this devoted mother. Wang’er Mountain Pagoda, along with the surrounding stone bridge, the “Stone Head of a Woman,” and other formations, creates a highly valuable natural landscape. Together with the touching human stories, they form a cultural landscape renowned both domestically and internationally.

This pagoda underwent three renovations in 1948, 1968, and 1980. In 2014, the Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau invested once again in its restoration. In 1984, the Yingkou Municipal People's Government (Ying Zheng Fa [1984] No. 108) designated Wang’er Mountain Pagoda as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit. In 2008, the Liaoning Provincial People's Government (Liao Zheng Fa [2008] No. 18) announced it as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

Protected area: from the mountaintop of Wang’er Mountain to the surrounding foothills (including the pavilion).

Construction control zone: within 40 meters outside the protected area is classified as a Category 5 construction control zone.

Source: Municipal Culture, Sports, News and Broadcasting Bureau   Contributor: Dong Wenjie

Wang’er Mountain Village: Wang’er Mountain Village……   Detailed information on Wang’er Mountain Village++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units of Liaoning Province