Twin Cities Pagoda

Twin Cities Pagoda

The Twin Cities Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

[Zoujiadun, Liuhe Village, Qiliping Town, Hong'an County · Qing Dynasty · Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Unit]

Built by Zou Pusheng (a local who later became Grand Tutor), a general under Xu Shouhui, leader of the late Yuan peasant uprising, this pagoda stands here. The 35-meter-high, 13-story structure boasts elegant form and solemn grandeur. Inside, a spiral staircase leads to the top, offering panoramic views of the surrounding distant mountains and nearby waters.

Located on the site of the ancient Shuangcheng settlement by Liulin River in Qiliping, Hong'an County, it is also known as the Shuangcheng Pagoda. According to county records, during the late Yuan Dynasty, Grand Tutor Zou Pusheng of the Tianguan regime of the Red Turban Army once stationed here, and the pagoda was built around that time. It was renovated in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign (1872) of the Qing Dynasty. The brick pagoda, designed to resemble wooden architecture, faces east-west, with a hexagonal plan spanning 13 stories, and reaches nearly 40 meters in height. Each level tapers slightly as it rises. The brackets, eaves, railings, windows, and niches are all assembled from custom-made bricks, fitted together with mortise-and-tenon joints for a seamless fit. The lotus petals, peonies, and double-coin decorative patterns are exquisitely crafted and thoughtfully arranged. The structure maintains balanced proportions, smooth curves, a robust form, and a solemn presence, reflecting the architectural style of the Song Dynasty. An internal staircase spirals to the top, where sweeping views inspire awe.

Legend has it that the original site of the pagoda was a thriving temple with many monks and a large following. The temple’s abbot had a fondness for keeping monkeys, which multiplied over time into a sizable troop that often frolicked atop the pagoda and along its tiers and nearby tree branches. Due to the legend of Sun Wukong (the Monkey King), the temple came to be known as "Monkey King Temple." Later, amid wars and chaos, the monks dispersed, and the monkeys scattered as well. Owing to these legends, treasure hunters still believe there is a hidden relic guarding the pagoda and frequently attempt to dig it up, only to be spotted and driven away by villagers...

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Hubei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units