Ancient Pagoda Soaring into the Clouds

Ancient Pagoda Soaring into the Clouds

Ancient Pagoda Soaring into the Clouds is a cultural tourism attraction.

As one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Tongzhou in the Ming Dynasty, the pagoda stands on the western bank at the northern end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, within the northern wall of Tongzhou City, the eastern gate of Beijing. Its name is the Rándēng Buddha Relic Pagoda, an octagonal, thirteen-story brick-and-wood structure of the dense-eave style. Originally built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, it was rebuilt in the seventh year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (633), reconstructed during the Chongxi period of the Liao Dynasty (1032–1054), and renovated in the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty, the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, and the ninth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1670). The pagoda collapsed in an earthquake in the eighteenth year (of Kangxi), and the main body was rebuilt in the thirty-seventh year (1698). The top was damaged by the strong tremors from the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, and the spire was restored in 1987.

The pagoda consists of a double-tiered Sumeru pedestal, a thirteen-story tower body, and a two-tiered lotus-pedestal steeple, reaching a total height of 56 meters, making it the tallest pagoda in the Beijing area. With minimal tapering, it appears almost perfectly upright, celebrated for its towering and majestic presence across the north. According to the *Tongzhou Annals*, the pagoda’s heavenly chamber indeed houses dozens of tiny orange-red, crystal-clear Buddhist relics about the size of millet grains, along with one Buddha tooth. Each layer features exquisitely crafted brick brackets, and every balustrade is adorned with unique relief patterns. At the end of each rafter on the pagoda’s body hangs a delicate copper bell, while two crisp wind chimes are suspended from each corner beam, totaling 2,248 bells—the most in the world. Additionally, the outer wall of each bell is inscribed with the name and dedicatory message of the donor, with some even engraved with poems for prayer. Beneath the old corner beams at each angle, a brick-carved deity statue is placed, totaling 104 statues of various forms, including a statue of Zhu Bajie (Pigsy) carved in the Ming Dynasty, decades before the novel *Journey to the West* was written. On the northwest roof tile of the thirteenth story of the pagoda grows an elm tree over 200 years old, which has tenaciously survived harsh winds and drought—an extraordinary sight. As an ancient poem goes, “A single pagoda shadow recognizes Tongzhou.” For many years, the Rándēng Pagoda has stood as the first pagoda along the 3,000-li Grand Canal and remains a symbol of Tongzhou City and the character of its people.