The Twin Pagodas of Lu'an

The Twin Pagodas of Lu'an

The Twin Pagodas of Lu'an is a cultural tourism attraction.

In the city of Lu'an, two ancient pagodas stand majestically—one to the north and one to the south—serving as the symbol and emblem of the historic city. Locals commonly refer to them as the "South Gate Cone" and the "North Gate Cone." The South Gate Cone is located on the west side of South Street, within the former Guanyin Temple, also known as the Guanyin Temple Pagoda. The North Gate Cone sits on the east side of North Outer Street, inside the former Duobao’an Temple, also called the Duobao’an Pagoda.

When it comes to the "Twin Pagodas," the elderly often reminisce with enthusiasm: "Lu'an is like a 'boat-shaped' land—the ancient city is a big boat, and the two precious pagodas to the north and south are like the masts of the 'boat.' As the water rises, the boat rises too. Although Lu'an City is situated close to the old Pi River, it has never been flooded."

The Duobao’an Pagoda is hexagonal in plan, featuring a pavilion-style design and constructed as a hollow tower using large bricks. Originally nine stories high, only seven remain today, with a remaining height of 21.6 meters. The base is 4.4 meters wide on each side and 3.9 meters high. The width and height of each successive level above gradually decrease, forming a conical shape.

The Guanyin Temple Pagoda has a total of nine levels, with a remaining height of 27 meters. It is a hollow pagoda with a pavilion-style, hexagonal plan and a brick-and-stone structure. The base is 3.9 meters wide on each side and 4.3 meters high. Each successive level above tapers proportionally, forming a conical shape. The main facade of the pagoda faces south, and the base features a round arched doorway that is 1.5 meters high and 0.85 meters wide. Next to the pagoda door, there is an inscribed stone tablet from the eighth year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1585), documenting the repair of the doorway. Stepping through the doorway leads into a square chamber with sides measuring 1.5 meters, featuring a domed ceiling. The interior once housed a Buddha niche, which has long been destroyed. The decorative brackets (dougong), as well as the false doors and lattice windows crafted in brick relief, are exquisitely detailed and realistic on each level of the pagoda.

Having endured centuries of time, the Twin Pagodas of Lu'an may be scarred and weathered, yet they have lost none of their former towering grandeur and rugged majesty. Today, these ancient pagodas add a touch of timeless charm to the modern cityscape of Gaocheng, dotted with new skyscrapers.