Pingyang Civilization Pagoda

Pingyang Civilization Pagoda

The Pingyang Civilization Pagoda is a Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Civilization Pagoda was built in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign (1884), featuring a hollow, seven-story, hexagonal pavilion-style structure made of blue bricks, standing 35 meters tall, with each level tapering upward. It was previously referred to as the "Literary Brush Peak." Originally, there was a wooden spiral staircase inside the pagoda, but it was destroyed by fire during the Republican era, and scorch marks can still be faintly seen inside. The Civilization Pagoda is a typical representative of Qing Dynasty-era imitation wooden brick pagodas in southern Zhejiang. A pagoda stele and a stone beast are also preserved nearby.

The Civilization Pagoda was constructed in the 4th year of the Guangxu reign and completed in March of the 10th year (1884), serving as a symbolic architectural project aimed at revitalizing literary culture at the time. The pagoda features a rigorous structure and a simple, elegant design, making it a typical example of Qing Dynasty-era imitation wooden brick pagodas in southern Zhejiang. It was listed as part of the fifth batch of Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units in 2005.

As a landmark ancient building in Pingyang County, the Civilization Pagoda has not undergone any repairs since being designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit in 1986, and its current state of preservation is concerning. After more than 100 years of natural wear and human damage, most of its components have weathered and fallen off, the pagoda top suffers from severe water leakage, and its roof and body are overgrown with shrubs and wild grass. The internal staircase has not been restored since it was destroyed by fire, and the original auxiliary buildings such as the "Civilization Academy" have been ruined. Furthermore, improper urban planning and illegal residential constructions have severely fragmented and damaged the historical landscape surrounding the pagoda.

Kunyang Town: Kunyang Town, Pingyang County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province1, is located in the eastern part of Pingyang County, 50 kilometers from downtown Wenzhou and 8 kilometers from Aojiang Port. Historically known as Luoyang or Hengyang, it is the seat of Pingyang County government and serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the county. The Yongtaiwen Expressway, National Highway 104, and the Wenzhou-Fuzhou Railway all pass through the area, providing convenient transportation. Since the 4th year of the Taikang era of the Western Jin Dynasty (283 AD), it has been the site of the county government, boasting a history of over 1,700 years.

　Kunyang has long been a bustling market town with thriving commerce and a rich cultural heritage. Renowned poets from the Southern Dynasties such as Xie Lingyun, as well as Song Dynasty poets like Lu You and Lin Jingxi, once left their marks here... More details about Kunyang Town++

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units