Linglong Park

Linglong Park

The Cishou Temple Pagoda in Linglong Park, originally named the "Everlasting Peace and Longevity Pagoda," is located within Cishou Temple in Balizhuang, Haidian District, Beijing. It was built in imitation of the Tianning Temple Pagoda. The temple was constructed in the fourth year of the Wanli era (1576) by Empress Dowager Cisheng, the mother of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Wanli ascended the throne at the age of only ten, and both internal and external state affairs were managed by Empress Dowager Li. Empress Dowager Li was a devout Buddhist throughout her life and, during her time in power, ordered the construction and renovation of many Buddhist temples in and around the capital, with Cishou Temple being one of them.

The site was originally the burial ground of eunuch Gu Dayong from the Zhengde era (1506–1521) of the Ming Dynasty. The temple was abandoned during the Guangxu era (1875–1908) of the Qing Dynasty and has remained in ruins for over a hundred years, with only the solitary pagoda standing on the former temple grounds. The original pagoda was built in the fourth year of the Wanli era (1576). Tall and graceful, it is a brick-and-stone structure with an octagonal floor plan, thirteen stories, and a height of over fifty meters, designed as a solid, dense-eave style pagoda. The base is made of brick and built in the form of a Sumeru pedestal, adorned with carvings of Buddha statues, flying apsaras, Vajra guardians, gate guardians, the Eight Treasures, and upward-facing lotuses. Notably, the upper section features carvings of a full set of musical instruments, which is extremely rare. The first story of the pagoda body is tall, with four false doors on the front facade and four false windows on the other sides. Both the doors and windows are flanked by carved Buddha statues, and the lintel above the southern door is inlaid with a stone plaque inscribed with the words "Everlasting Peace and Longevity Pagoda." Above the pagoda body are thirteen tiers of dense eaves, and the spire is crowned with a giant precious bead supported by an upward-facing lotus base. The exquisitely detailed brick carvings adorned with floral patterns are vivid and delicate. This pagoda is a representative work of the dense-eave style pagodas of the Ming Dynasty and is now listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Beijing. Beside the pagoda are two intricately carved stone steles from the Wanli era (1573–1620) of the Ming Dynasty, featuring line engravings of the Goddess of Mercy and Guan Yu.

Address: No. 3, Beili, Xibali Zhuang, Haidian District, Beijing

Opening Hours:

March–October: 5:00–23:00; November–February of the following year: 6:00–22:00

Information Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Balizhuang Subdistrict: Balizhuang Subdistrict is located in the southern part of Haidian District and was established in March 1963. Currently, the subdistrict has 35 community residents' committees, with a total administrative area of 6.5 square kilometers, a registered population of 82,878, and a migrant population of 59,489. In 2009, the subdistrict's fiscal expenditure was 65.737 million yuan. The area is home to Fucheng Road, one of Beijing’s four renowned culinary streets, featuring premium dining establishments represented by brands such as Xiang E Qing, Jinyue, Lichang, and Shunfeng. Other notable institutions in the area include the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Newspaper Office, Capital Normal University, Crystal CG Digital Technology Co., Ltd., and Beijing Kejingyuan Science & Technology...  More detailed information about Balizhuang Subdistrict++