Tianjin Baodi Stone Pagoda

Tianjin Baodi Stone Pagoda

Introduction Situated in the center of the cross street in Baodi County, it is one of the ancient Eight Scenic Spots of Baodi, known as the “Golden Top of the Stone Pagoda.” Constructed during the reign of Emperor Shengzong of Liao (983–1031), it was rebuilt during the Huangtong period of the Jin Dynasty, as well as in the Kangxi and Guangxu periods of the Qing Dynasty. The structure is divided into three sections: the base, the body, and the top, with an overall height of 11.4 meters. The base is square at the bottom, with carvings of Buddhist stories on all four sides, topped by a Sumeru pedestal, a waistband-arched gate, and upward-facing lotus petals. The body consists of an octagonal stone pillar and a canopy, comprising six levels in total. The first, second, fifth, and sixth levels feature carvings of Buddha statues; the third level houses a stele from the first year of the Guangxu reign (1875) that is a recarving of the 1682 “Record of the Reconstruction of the Stone Pagoda” from the twenty-first year of the Kangxi reign. The fourth level is inscribed with the text of the “Usnisa Vijaya Dharani Sutra.” Each level’s canopy is adorned with carvings of animal heads and silk-like draped curtain patterns around the perimeter, with the topmost level featuring carved roof tiles. The top of the pagoda includes a lotus pedestal, an iron flagpole, and a wish-granting jewel. The entire stone pagoda boasts a unique shape and exquisite carvings. It was toppled in 1966 but restored and renovated in 1988.

Tianjin Wuqing District