Yuncheng Tang Tower

Yuncheng Tang Tower

The Yuncheng Tang Tower is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

The Tang Tower, also known as the Guanyin Temple Pagoda, was originally located within the former Guanyin Temple and is also referred to as the Great Buddha Temple Pagoda. It was first built during the Later Tang of the Five Dynasties period, hence the name “Tang Tower.” It has now been planned as a major attraction within Tang Tower Square.

The Tang Tower is situated at 35' north latitude and 115' east longitude, covering an area of 80 square meters. It is constructed of bricks and is an octagonal, four-gated pavilion-style brick pagoda. The lower level has a circumference of 42 meters, the upper level 40 meters, with a total of seven tiers. The remaining broken tower is 32 meters high, with four tiers currently preserved, and sits at an elevation of about 72 meters. The eaves are made of exquisitely carved brick brackets. Each of the east, west, south, and north sides features a pointed arched gate, while the other sides have carved decorative windows. The inner chamber and the tops of the Buddha niches are formed by layers of interlocking brick brackets creating a vaulted ceiling. The brackets are finely crafted, gradually narrowing inward, with a rigorous and staggered structure that exhibits marvelous craftsmanship. The corridors inside the tower are also meticulously built with brick brackets. Visitors can ascend the tower through the north gate, pass through the inner chamber to the southern wall, climb to the second tier along the southern wall, then turn upward through the central pillar to reach the top.

According to the *Yuncheng County Annals*, in the 13th year of the Zhengtong era of the Ming Dynasty (1446), when the Yellow River burst its banks near Xingyang, Yuncheng suffered severe disaster, and two tiers of the pagoda were buried under silt. Currently, only four tiers remain above ground, standing approximately 32 meters tall, with the upper tier having a circumference of 40 meters and the lower tier 44 meters. Despite years of weathering and erosion, the pagoda remains majestic and primitive, still standing as a scenic highlight of the region. The tower is surrounded by clear waters, with green trees providing shade along the banks. At dawn and dusk in summer, thousands of swallows gather and circle the tower, chirping as they fly. The interplay of sunlight and shadows, the green foliage, the shadows of the swallows, and the towering ancient pagoda reflected in the clear water create a scene reminiscent of an ancient landscape painting—truly spectacular.

During the transition between spring and summer, countless insects swarm around the top of the tower. Viewed from afar, they resemble wisps of green smoke gently rising, attracting swallows that swoop in to feed. Legend has it that if you climb the tower and look west during this time, you might catch a glimpse of the mirage-like scene of the ancient city of Linqiu—another historic spectacle of Yuncheng known as the Linqiu Mist Market. Chen Liangmo, the Qing Dynasty magistrate of Yuncheng, left behind the poetic line: “Without mirages, how could there be seascape markets? From afar, it seems like rosy clouds in steam.”

During the restoration of the ancient tower, engineering teams drilled down from the ground and discovered remnants of the pagoda still present 15 meters below the surface. To this day, the original height of the Guanyin Temple Pagoda remains a mystery. In July 1983, a massive fireball circled the tower once before rapidly descending along its body. With a loud explosion, a steam column nearly 30 meters high formed. The marks left by the fireball on the pagoda are still clearly visible, yet the insect swarms resembling smoke have since vanished. Only the thousands of swallows continue to circle and chirp around the tower year after year. Upon climbing the tower to search, no traces of swallow nests can be found. These phenomena and legends add a thick veil of mystery to the Guanyin Temple Pagoda.

The pagoda is surrounded by clear waters, with green trees offering shade along the banks. At dawn and dusk in summer, thousands of swallows gather and circle the tower, chirping. Ancient poets wrote: “The broken pagoda, layered like moss, yearly heralds the return of the sea swallows. Unwearying even as the monks’ alms decline, they diligently fly back and forth.” The interplay of morning and evening light, the greenery, the shadows of the swallows, and the towering ancient pagoda reflected in the clear water create a scene reminiscent of an ancient landscape painting—truly spectacular. Today, Tang Tower Square further accentuates the pagoda’s primitive grandeur, leaving visitors in awe.