Sizhou Temple Pagoda

Sizhou Temple Pagoda

Sizhou Temple Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Sizhou Temple Pagoda is located on the northern section of Xinchun Road in Tanghe County. It is one of the tallest and largest ancient pagodas still standing in Henan Province, often described as “Sizhou Temple Pagoda stands just eighteen feet short of the sky.” It is among the first batch of provincial-level cultural heritage protection units in Henan. Also known as Bodhi Temple Pagoda, it was first built in the second year of the Shaosheng era during the Song Dynasty (1095), situated within the original Bodhi Temple compound, which no longer exists. The pagoda is a brick structure designed to resemble wooden pavilion-style architecture, shaped like an octagonal pyramid with 11 tiers and a height of 49.75 meters. The first tier has a diameter of 7.6 meters, and the base of the pagoda measures 5.86 meters per side. Inside the pagoda, there is a brick-built central pillar, around which spiral staircases allow visitors to ascend to the top. The outer wall of the second tier features 59 Buddha statues of Sakyamuni. The fourth tier’s outer wall has six Buddha statues, each 21 centimeters tall, seated on lotus-shaped pedestals. The pagoda’s flying corners are adorned with 80 carved dragon heads, each extending 33 centimeters from the pagoda’s surface. These dragon heads hold iron rings in their mouths, from which hang wind chimes that tinkle melodiously in the breeze, creating a serene Buddhist ambiance. The top of the pagoda consists of eight converging spires, covered with green glazed tiles, lotus petals, and inverted-bowl-shaped precious vases. Occasionally, a “white smoke” (actually swarms of gnats) appears at the pagoda’s peak, a phenomenon known as “Ancient Pagoda Emitting Smoke,” which was listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Tanghe during the Qing Dynasty.

Wenfeng Subdistrict: The Wenfeng Subdistrict Office administers five community committees, 30 natural villages, 58 resident groups, 35,160 residents in total, including over 12,000 registered residents. The area covers 18.8 square kilometers. It is just over 40 kilometers from Nanyang Airport and is traversed by the Nanjing–Xi’an Railway, Xinyang–Nanyang Expressway, National Highway 312, Provincial Highway S249, and Provincial Highway S335. Backed by the Tanghe River and facing the Sanjia River to the south, it houses the national cultural relics Sizhou Pagoda and Wenfeng Pagoda. With convenient transportation, superior geographical conditions, and rich cultural heritage, the area offers great potential.

Since the establishment of the subdistrict office in 2008... Detailed information about Wenfeng Subdistrict ++

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units