The Twin Pagodas of Nübu

The Twin Pagodas of Nübu

The Twin Pagodas of Nübu are designated as cultural heritage sites protected by Zhejiang Province.

The Twin Pagodas of Nübu are located in Nübu Subdistrict, Lanxi City, dating back to the Ming Dynasty.

The Twin Pagodas of Nübu, namely the Front Pagoda (Yongling Pagoda) and the Rear Pagoda (Renshou Pagoda), are located in Xiapan Village and Jiantan Village, Nübu Subdistrict, Lanxi City, Jinhua.

Both pagodas were built during the Ming Dynasty. Among them, Yongling Pagoda is located on Bailu Mountain, approximately 500 meters southeast of Xiapan Village, commonly known as the Front Pagoda, and was built in the early Ming Dynasty. It is a hexagonal, five-tiered pavilion-style brick pagoda, standing 23 meters tall with a base width of 2.6 meters and walls 89 centimeters thick. The base is constructed from bluestone, while the body is built with blue bricks laid in a one-stretcher-one-header pattern. Each level features alternating flat bricks and dentil courses for the eaves. The top wall of the pagoda is inlaid with a bluestone plaque inscribed with “Yongling Pagoda,” and the third tier bears a stone carving of the characters “Sui Zhan.” Legend has it that Xiapan Village was shaped like a boat, prompting locals to build the pagoda to protect the village and ensure favorable weather and prosperity.

Due to years of neglect, the entire pagoda leans slightly toward the southeast at an angle of about ten degrees. There are multiple cracks in the walls, and the ground floor has a very noticeable collapsed cavity at the back. The outer walls are mottled, covered in ivy, and the projecting eaves are chipped and incomplete. In 2007, corrective work and restoration were carried out, with reinforcement using steel bars in the upper half of the pagoda and the base. In recent years, many fine cracks have appeared on the exterior, and at one entrance, parts of the structure have been damaged with numerous broken stones and bricks. Inside, there is a crack nearly one meter long running from the top to the body of the pagoda, along with many other visible fissures caused by broken bricks.

Renshou Pagoda is located behind Yongling Pagoda, hence commonly called the Rear Pagoda. It was built in the 40th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1612). This pagoda is also a hollow, brick-and-stone pavilion-style structure, with six sides and seven levels, standing approximately 33 meters tall and 2.75 meters wide at the base, with walls 1.02 meters thick. The fourth level features a T-shaped stone plaque inscribed with the characters “Renshou Pagoda,” accompanied by the signature “Built by Zhou ?z.”

On January 13, 2017, the People's Government of Zhejiang Province announced it as part of the seventh batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units.

Xiapan Village: Located in Lanxi City, Xiapan Village neighbors Huatang Village and Tianfan Village. It is known for its talented residents, clear blue skies, clean water, and beautiful mountains and rivers.

Main agricultural products: yam, beetroot, green beans, sour orange, eggplant

Enterprises and institutions: Jianfen Branch of Central Health Center, -Zi Crispy Cake Factory, Agricultural Comprehensive Service Company Jianfen Operating Department, Xiapan Gas Station, Foreign Trade Arts and Crafts Factory... More detailed information about Xiapan Village++

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units