Changshan Xingxian Pagoda

Changshan Xingxian Pagoda

Changshan Xingxian Pagoda is a Zhejiang Provincial cultural heritage site.

Xingxian Pagoda, a Ming Dynasty structure, is located on the rocks by the stream at the base of Shipi, outside Shuikou in Qiuchuan Town, Changshan County. It is a Zhejiang Provincial-level cultural heritage site.

According to the *Changshan County Annals*: “Xingxian Pagoda, situated in Qiuchuan, was built by Xu Xiaozhu, Mao Liangming, and others in the late Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty.” This pagoda is a hexagonal seven-story brick tower. The pagoda stands 27.27 meters tall, and its foundation is built with strip stones, making it solid and sturdy. The ground floor has one entrance, which faces north. The pagoda body is constructed from blue bricks with double-layered walls. Between the two walls, there is a stone staircase that allows one person to ascend or descend. The stairs spiral counterclockwise up to the connecting points between floors. Originally, there were flooring boards at each floor connection, but these have been destroyed. The eaves of each floor protrude in an overlapping pattern, and the interior of the pagoda is hollow and hexagonal.

Current status: The original spire of the pagoda was struck and destroyed by lightning in the 1940s. The sixth and seventh floors have severe cracks, and the eaves of each floor show varying degrees of damage. The rest of the structure remains intact.

The pagoda features a unique architectural style and distinct characteristics of its time, making it an important reference for the study of ancient high-rise building techniques.

On August 11, 1986, the county government designated it as a county-level cultural heritage site.

On January 7, 2011, the provincial government listed it as part of the sixth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage sites.

Qiuchuan Town: “Mountains encircle like a ball, and water flows like a river,” hence the name Qiuchuan. Located on the border between Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces, Qiuchuan Town sits at the western gateway of Changshan County. With a long history, numerous historical relics, and a simple folk culture, it is a millennia-old town on the western edge of Zhejiang. The town boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters, with a pleasant environment. The Hang-Jin-Qu Expressway runs through the town, and infrastructure such as transportation and communications is well-developed. The great Song Dynasty literary master Zhu Xi once visited Qiuchuan to meet friends and hike for scenic views, where he composed the timeless verse, “Mountains stand like embroidered screens, and waters flow with the fragrance of ink.” Qiuchuan has thus gained widespread fame. The town covers a vast area of 78.4 square kilometers, with a total population of 2... More detailed information about Qiuchuan Town++

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites