Ninghai Wenfeng Pagoda

Ninghai Wenfeng Pagoda

Ninghai Wenfeng Pagoda is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located on Yuelong Mountain in Ninghai County, this brick pagoda was built in the late Ming Dynasty. Standing 32 meters tall, it is a hollow nine-story hexagonal structure. Each level features corbelled eaves with dentil molding, an arched gate on every side, and niches along the walls.

Standing atop Yuelong Mountain in Ninghai, Wenfeng Pagoda is the most eye-catching ancient building on the mountain. It forms the central spine of Yuelong Mountain and serves as the visual focal point for visitors entering Yuelong Mountain Park from below, drawing their gaze upward to the mountaintop.

Wenfeng Pagoda was constructed in the Year of Renwu during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1582) to honor the spirit of past sages and revive Ninghai’s “literary culture.” The pagoda originally had eight stories and stood 22.6 meters tall. In 1861, its top was struck by lightning and collapsed. In the tenth year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1874), County Magistrate Wang Yaobin and Yu Tingxun initiated its restoration. With donations from Xie Xuanhui, a supervised student, and oversight by Wu Ji, a scholar, as well as military merit holder Liu Kaibai serving as supervisor, the pagoda was rebuilt. By then, it had been expanded to nine stories and reached a height of 24.5 meters. In 1915, the pagoda was struck by lightning again, and its top was largely destroyed without repair. Over time, weathering and erosion caused significant damage, posing a risk of imminent collapse. In December 1982, the Ninghai County People's Government designated Wenfeng Pagoda as a key cultural relic protection unit and allocated over 10,000 yuan in 1983 for its renovation. The restored pagoda retains its original structure and design, with a completely renewed body and a lightning rod installed on the top to ensure the ancient pagoda’s preservation.

Dominating the peak of Yuelong Mountain and surrounded by hills and water, Wenfeng Pagoda boasts pleasant scenery and stands as one of the county’s iconic landmarks. To meet public expectations, a stele pavilion has been built on the hillside south of the pagoda to document its history. Though it resembles an ancient wooden structure in appearance (it is actually made of reinforced concrete), it is exquisitely crafted.

Continuing northward from the first stele on the back of Xishan Hill near Wenfeng Pagoda along the downward slope in a southerly direction, another pavilion has been constructed on the steep cliffside. Also made of reinforced concrete, it is named “Wangxi Pavilion” (Stream-Gazing Pavilion). Nestled against the cliff, this pavilion overlooks a deep, rushing stream of unknown depth, with sheer rock faces rising 10 zhang high. The pavilion’s upturned eaves and flying rafters brave the wind and rain. Visitors who pause here often find themselves lingering, reluctant to leave.

Opening Hours

8:00–17:30

Location

Chengguan Town, Ninghai County, Zhejiang Province