Shanghai Songhua River Huzhu Pagoda

Shanghai Songhua River Huzhu Pagoda

Shanghai Songhua River Huzhu Pagoda is a protected cultural heritage site of Shanghai Municipality.

Shanghai Songhua River Huzhu Pagoda: Located within the territory of Shanghai’s Songhua River area. With a history of 900 years, its tilt angle exceeds that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa by 1.5 times, leaning southeast yet remaining upright. It was damaged by fire during the Qing Dynasty, which destroyed the central wooden pillar, as well as parts of the floorboards, staircases, and eaves.

The Huzhu Pagoda is also known as the Baoguang Pagoda. It is located on the central peak of Tianma Mountain in Songjiang District, Shanghai. Due to its tilt, it is also called the Leaning Pagoda. Tianma Mountain is the eighth peak among the “Nine Peaks of Yunjian” and is the largest of the nine. Yuanchi Buddhist Temple is one of the larger temples among the Nine Peaks, originally built in the 13th year of the Dazhong era of the Tang Dynasty (859 AD). It was originally located southwest of Huating County town but collapsed due to flooding during the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty in the Five Dynasties period (936–942 AD), after which it was relocated to the mountain. The temple was expanded again during the Song Dynasty. Behind the temple lies the Huzhu Pagoda, which was constructed in the second year of the Yuanfeng era of the Song Dynasty (1079 AD) by the monk Shilun for the purpose of ?????. It was renovated in the fifth year of the Chunyou era (1245 AD).

The pagoda is built with brick and wood, has an octagonal floor plan, seven stories, and is 18.82 meters high, featuring a pavilion-style structure. Each level has eaves, balconies, and railings, making it a delicate and elegant tower in its original form. Historical records indicate that during the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, a fire caused by fireworks during a Buddhist ceremony at the mountain top destroyed the outer corridors and central pillar, leaving only the brick shell of the pagoda. Later, locals, believing that the pagoda bricks contained sacred pearls or relics, extensively dug around the structure in search of treasures, removing one-third of the foundation at two locations, which led to noticeable tilting. In addition, inconsistent soil conditions around the pagoda caused uneven subsidence.

The Huzhu Pagoda was built in the second year of the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song Dynasty (1097 AD), with a brick and wood structure, eight sides, seven stories, and a height of 18.81 meters. It was renovated in the fifth year of the Chunyou era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1245 AD). In the 53rd year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1788 AD), it was damaged by fire, leaving only the brick body. The pagoda leans at an angle of 30.52 degrees, with the vertical line from the top now 2.27 meters away from the center of the base. Its incline surpasses that of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, earning it the nickname “Shanghai’s Leaning Tower of Pisa” and making it a major attraction in Shanghai. To protect the pagoda, reinforcement work was carried out at the end of 1987 to preserve its leaning yet upright grandeur.

In 1982, survey results showed that the pagoda leaned 6°51′52″ to the southeast. Due to its significant tilt, it is commonly referred to as the Leaning Pagoda. In 1982, the Municipal Cultural Relics Management Committee established the “Tianma Mountain Song Huzhu Pagoda Research and Restoration Group,” which determined a restoration plan: “reinforce as is, maintaining the tilt without collapse.” Construction began in 1984 using traditional building techniques: first, bamboo and wooden supports were used to stabilize the pagoda; then iron hoops were installed around each level’s eaves; finally, eight steel bars were inserted from the top down to the base, extending horizontally in all directions like crab claws to connect with underground rocks, thereby supporting the pagoda and preserving its leaning yet stable posture. Tests showed that the restored pagoda could withstand earthquakes below magnitude 6 and winds below force 10. The entire project was completed in 1987.

In 2015, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage stated that it had been closely monitoring the condition of the Tianma Mountain Leaning Pagoda. Measurements were taken twice a year, at the beginning and end of the year, with analysis and evaluation based on the results. If structural issues were detected, major repairs would be initiated. According to current inspections, the ancient pagoda’s structure remains undamaged, though long-term weathering has caused some surface cracks and peeling. Depending on the situation, the exterior may be repaired in the second half of 2015. Over the past thousand years, due to ground movement, the pagoda has gradually tilted toward the southeast. As of 2015, it had deviated 2.28 meters eastward with a tilt angle of 7.10°. Since its inclination exceeds that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, it is known as “Shanghai’s Leaning Tower of Pisa” and is a major attraction in the city.

In 1983, it was listed as a municipal-level cultural heritage protection unit.

Opening Hours

8:00-17:00

Location

Tianma Mountain, Songjiang District, Shanghai