Shanghai Fahua Pagoda

Shanghai Fahua Pagoda

The Shanghai Fahua Pagoda is a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai Municipality.

The Jiading Fahua Pagoda is located in the center of today’s Jiading Town, Jiading District, also known as the Jinsha Pagoda. Built during the Kaixi era (1205–1207) of the Southern Song Dynasty, the pagoda was constructed when the area was still called “Lianqi Market.” A decade later, Jiading County was established. The county town was planned around this pagoda, which stood as the highest point in the city, situated at the center of its four main streets.

After its completion, the pagoda was renovated in the first year of the Dade era (1308). Over the centuries, it fell into disrepair several times, and by the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, it was severely damaged, with only the base remaining relatively intact. In the 36th year of Wanli (1608), then-county magistrate Chen Yiyuan raised funds to restore it, rebuilding the seven-tiered structure with arched gateways on all four sides. The pagoda, made of brick and wood, stands 40.83 meters tall. Each level features a flat terrace, railings, and eaves, with upturned corners between floors adorned with hanging bells that tinkle melodiously in the wind. The “Golden Sand Sunset Glow” was one of the scenic highlights of Jiading at the time. Lou Jian, one of the “Four Masters of Jiading” from the late Ming period and a calligrapher, inscribed the plaque for the “Fahua Pagoda.”

By the time of the Republic of China, the pagoda had deteriorated significantly. In the 13th year of the Republic (1924), local resident Dai Sigong led fundraising efforts for a major restoration, replacing the first-floor corridor, the eaves and railings of each level, and the seventh-floor spire with reinforced concrete structures. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Jiading People’s Government designated it as a cultural heritage protection site.

In 1994, the Shanghai Municipal Cultural Relics Management Committee and the Jiading County Government jointly allocated nearly 2 million yuan to urgently repair the heavily leaning Fahua Pagoda (with a central displacement of 120 cm), relocating nearby residents and shops. In February, the underground palace beneath the base and the niches in the sixth-floor chamber were cleared, unearthing over ten thousand cultural relics from the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, including ancient coins predating the Song, Yuan-era Phags-pa script coins, jade figurines, jade animal carvings, stone statues, silver boxes, bronze ware, porcelain, and ancient books. During the restoration, contemporary treasures were also placed in the underground palace, such as a sub-altar of the “Millennium Treasure Tripod,” a high-end purple clay teapot showcasing the pagoda’s pre-restoration appearance, laser glass “Divine Light,” the fine porcelain piece “Three Rams Bring Prosperity,” a Qing Dynasty Shoushan stone seal carved by Deng Sanmu, a silver model of a 2000-type Santana sedan, a gold light bulb model, a jade carving of Nanxiang xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), a golden shield, a silver cup, bamboo intaglio carvings, and boxwood carvings. The restoration was completed by the end of 1996. Surveying confirmed that the pagoda had been straightened to meet required standards, restoring its historic charm of “bells ringing through the heavens,” and a dynamic floodlighting system was installed, making the legendary “radiance from all four corners” a reality. Inside each level, a staircase allows visitors to climb and enjoy panoramic views of the city. The winding river, quiet alleys, and classic old houses around the pagoda form a picturesque scene unique to Jiading.

Address: No. 349 South Street, Jiading District, Shanghai

Type: Historical Site / Ancient Pagoda

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Phone: 021-59927867

Opening Hours:

8:00-16:30

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 6.0 RMB

Jiading Town Subdistrict: Before the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, an ancient coastline formed at the Yangtze River estuary, and human activity was already present along the Lianqi River (in the area of today’s West Gate Old Street). By the Liang Dynasty’s Tianjian era (502–519), a settlement had emerged. During the Tang Dynasty, the ancient town of Jiading was named Lianqi Market after the Lianqi River. On the ninth day of the twelfth month of the tenth year of the Southern Song’s Jiading era (January 7, 1218), the county seat was established and named Jiading after the reign title, a name that has been retained to this day. In September 2000, Jiading Town was restructured into Jiading Town Subdistrict.

Designated as one of Shanghai’s Four Great Historic and Cultural Towns by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in 1991, Jiading Town has long been celebrated for its rich cultural heritage... More details about Jiading Town Subdistrict ++