Jing Shan Bell Tower

Jing Shan Bell Tower

The Jing Shan Bell Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Hangzhou City.

The Jing Shan Bell Tower is located southeast of the Mahavira Hall atop Jing Shan Mountain, about 15 kilometers northwest of Jing Shan Town. Dating back to the Qing Dynasty, it is classified as an ancient architectural structure.

Located on the western slope of Yang Peak, southeast of the Mahavira Hall of Jing Shan Wanshou Chan Temple, it stands 12 meters tall in total, with the ground floor measuring 8.11 meters in width and 8.14 meters in depth. At the center of the tower, four golden pillars rise from the bottom up, each with a diameter of 0.36 meters and spaced 2.9 meters apart in a square formation, extending straight up to the top floor where the beam framework forms a “bell frame” that suspends the large bell. A staircase is located behind the central screen on the ground floor, allowing access to the upper level from the south-facing north side. The upper floor has windows on all four sides. The tower and the large bell are supported by ten pillars respectively, while also being structurally interconnected, which enhances the stability of the building and reflects very scientific construction. On the evening of July 18, 1990, a major fire caused by a tourist’s cigarette butt destroyed the bell tower and melted the bell, causing it to deform and break into several pieces, also damaging the “Stele of Eminent Monks Through the Ages.” The bell tower was restored in 1991, and the damaged bell was placed inside.

In 2009, the Jing Shan Bell Tower was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit of Hangzhou City.

Protected Area: East to approximately 3 meters outside the Yu Bei Pavilion itself, south to approximately 20 meters outside the bell tower and the curb line of the path in front of the Yu Bei Pavilion, southwest to the outer wall of Jing Shan Wanshou Chan Temple, west to approximately 30 meters outside the bell tower, and north to approximately 25 meters outside the bell tower, covering a total area of 4,442 square meters.

Construction Control Zone: East to the ridgeline at the eastern foot of Zhong Shan, south to approximately 30 meters outside the protected area, west to the courtyard walls of Jing Shan Temple, north to approximately 40 meters outside the protected area, covering a total area of 35,940 square meters.

Jing Shan Town: Located in the western part of Yuhang District, Jing Shan Town is traversed by the North Tiaoxi River and the Middle Tiaoxi River. It connects to the Hang-Hui Highway to the south and crosses the 104 National Road and Provincial Highway 015, providing convenient transportation. The town covers a total area of 157.08 square kilometers, with a population of 38,507. It administers 13 administrative villages, 2 communities, 274 villager groups, and 12,888 farming households. Jing Shan Town has a long history and rich cultural heritage. The area contains the Xiaogucheng Site, which ranges from the Majiabang Culture to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods; the Jing Shan Temple, ranked first among the Five Mountains and Ten Temples of Jiangnan; and the former residence of Lu Yu, the Tea Sage, who tasted tea and wrote the Classic of Tea… More details about Jing Shan Town ++