Jinzhu Pagoda

Jinzhu Pagoda

Jinzhu Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

Jinzhu Pagoda is located in Baota Administrative Village, Gushu Town, Dangtu County, on the southern bank of the mouth where the Guxi River meets the Yangtze River, approximately 2.5 kilometers from the county seat. The pagoda was originally built in the 17th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1589). In 2004, it was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Anhui Province. In September 2006, the pagoda underwent restoration based on a conservation plan developed by the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, which aimed to “repair the old as the old, restoring the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty pagoda.” The restoration was completed in January 2008. Jinzhu Pagoda is constructed of brick and stone, with a total height of 37 meters, a base diameter of 9 meters, and seven stories in an octagonal layout. Each tier features eaves adorned with brick imitation bracket sets, while the base is built from bluestone. The structure has a double-cylinder design: the outer cylinder serves as the stairway, and the inner cylinder houses the chamber on each level. These chambers all have domed ceilings, with Buddha-image bricks inlaid along the lower edge of the ceiling, and niches inside. Each level and side of the pagoda is equipped with a door, flanked by lamp niches. It was renovated in the 6th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1677), when a hall and a pavilion were also built at the foot of the pagoda, surrounded by flowers and bamboo, although these structures no longer exist today. The Jinzhu Pagoda is exquisitely crafted, majestic in presence, and combines religious, feng shui, and navigational functions without being overly ornate. Its dignified and stable form, coupled with finely made attached columns and Buddha niches, delicately carved two-pronged brackets and paired interlocking brackets, finely rendered Dizang Bodhisattva images on the Buddha bricks, and ingeniously designed lamp niches, makes it a unique example among ancient pagodas in the province for integrating all these structural elements in a single Ming Dynasty pagoda.

Jinzhu Pagoda is one of the iconic ancient architectural landmarks of Dangtu County and even Ma'anshan, exuding grandeur. There is an old saying in Dangtu: “Though Dangtu is small, it has three pagodas and two floating bridges.” Today, two of the three pagodas remain: Jinzhu Pagoda and Huangshan Pagoda (Lingyun Pagoda collapsed in 1911 and is currently under reconstruction). Climbing the pagoda offers panoramic views of the mighty Yangtze River flowing eastward, as well as the majestic sights of Tianmen Mountain and Caishi Jetty.

Historical Evolution:

In the 6th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1668), it was renovated.

In the 17th year of the Republic of China (1929), it was renovated.

The above historical renovations are cited from the Dangtu County Annals of the 14th year of the Qianlong reign and the Dangtu County Annals of the 26th year of the Republic of China.

In 2004, it was approved and designated as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Anhui Province.

In September 2006, it underwent restoration based on a conservation plan developed by the Anhui Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, aiming to “repair the old as the old, restoring the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty pagoda.” The restoration was completed in January 2008.

Protected Area: 50 meters to the south, west, and north, and 15 meters to the east, beyond the pagoda itself.

Construction Control Zone: 100 meters to the south, west, and north, and 135 meters to the east, beyond the protected area.

Baota Village: Baota Village in Gushu Town is situated at the southern gateway of Dangtu County, nestled between the cities of Ma’anshan and Wuhu, enjoying a highly advantageous location. It is traversed by the Shanghai–Tongling–Wannan Railway and National Highway 205, borders the Guxi River to the north, and lies adjacent to the Yangtze River’s golden waterway to the west, providing extremely convenient water and land transportation. The village is home to an ancient Ming Dynasty pagoda (Jinzhu Pagoda), which stands like a shining pearl at the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Guxi River. In 2007, the County Shipbuilding Industrial Park was established in our village.

The village currently has a population of 3,900, with approximately 3,150 acres of paddy fields and about 850 acres of ponds, comprising 35 villager... Detailed information about Baota Village ++