Multistoried Pagoda and Cliff Carvings of Snake Coil Mountain

Multistoried Pagoda and Cliff Carvings of Snake Coil Mountain

The Multistoried Pagoda and Cliff Carvings of Snake Coil Mountain are protected as a provincial-level cultural relic site in Liaoning Province.

The Multistoried Pagoda of Snake Coil Mountain is located behind the Shuangquan Temple on Snake Coil Mountain in Fangshan Town, Heishan County, Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province. It is a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.

Built during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty (1821–1850), it is said to have been constructed by the founding monk, Elder Hengxi. The pagoda is made of granite and is a stupa-style Lamaist pagoda, consisting of a base, body, and finial. The base is a Sumeru-style hexagonal platform, each side measuring 1.86 meters and standing 2 meters high. The base gradually narrows upward with four layers of stone, atop which sits a high Buddha niche. The Buddha statue was stolen in earlier years, but the niche still bears the carved characters “Multistoried Pagoda.” Above the pagoda are thirteen diminishing discs leading to the top. The apex is fitted with an iron finial. On the middle level of the pagoda’s south side is an arched niche door, inside of which there used to be a copper-cast Bodhisattva statue seated on a lotus pedestal with hands clasped in prayer, exuding a serene and natural expression. Unfortunately, the bronze statue has also been stolen. The pagoda was restored in recent years.

The Multistoried Pagoda stands on the sunny slope in the central part of Snake Coil Mountain, with the Shuangquan Temple below, cliff carvings to the east, and is one of the main scenic spots on the mountain. The stone pagoda is surrounded by mountains on its north and west sides, while the south side offers an open view. The pagoda and the cliff carvings hold considerable artistic value. In August 1984, it was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the Jinzhou Municipal People's Government.

Protected Area: Within a radius of 100 meters centered on the Multistoried Pagoda.

Construction Control Zone: A first-class control zone extends 50 meters beyond the protected area, and a second-class control zone extends 200 meters beyond the first-class zone.

Fangshan Town: Fangshan Town is located midway between Shenyang and Jinzhou, 24 kilometers from the county town where the heroic Heishan Defensive Battle took place. The Da Zheng Railway runs through the town and includes a third-class railway station, with well-connected road networks. The town covers an area of 153 square kilometers, with a total social land area of 240,000 mu, including 110,000 mu of arable land, and a population of 34,000. Its annual output value is approximately 520 million yuan. Key industries include nationally renowned peanut products and apple pears and Jin Feng pears that have won gold awards and are registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. The tertiary sector features the world A-grade certified Green Fangshan Organic Food Co., Ltd., and the Longshe Tourist Area. Since the reform and opening-up, successive party… More details about Fangshan Town++

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Liaoning Province