Fuchuan Riguang Pagoda

Fuchuan Riguang Pagoda

Fuchuan Riguang Pagoda is a cultural tourism attraction.

Riguang Pagoda is located at a sharp bend on the western bank of the Fuyang River, about 500 meters south of downtown Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County. It is commonly known as Guanyin Pagoda or Guanyin Pavilion because it once housed an engraved statue of the Goddess of Mercy.

The pagoda is a seven-story hexagonal brick structure in the pavilion style, standing 28 meters tall with its foundation buried 4.8 meters deep. The top is crowned with a 400-kilogram bronze spire. Each level has a door, with the orientation rotating clockwise from one floor to the next. The top level features windows on all six sides. Inside, there is a 78-step spiral brick staircase leading directly to the top. From the summit, visitors can enjoy views of three of the “Eight Scenic Spots of Fuchuan”: “Rushing Waters of the Fuyang,” “Layered Peaks and Verdant Heights,” and “Mountain Springs and Flying Waterfalls.” The area around the pagoda is shaded by lush trees, with the clear Yuquan Spring adding to the serene and elegant atmosphere.

The exact year of the pagoda’s construction is not documented. However, according to Volume 12, “Miscellaneous Records,” of the Guangxu-era Fuchuan County Annals: “In the spring of the 34th year of the Jiajing reign (1555), lightning struck the masonry surface of Riguang Pagoda,” indicating its existence by that time. It was destroyed by fire during the Xianfeng era in 1855 and rebuilt in 1872 during the Tongzhi era. Over the past 400 years from the Ming Dynasty to the present, Riguang Pagoda has withstood floods, earthquakes, and lightning strikes, remaining intact. In the early Republican period, the site was turned into Zhongshan Park. In 1980 and 1988, the county government allocated funds twice for repairs, reinforcing the pagoda’s foundation.

Next to Riguang Pagoda lies Ciyun Temple, also known as Zhenjiang Ciyun Temple, covering a total area of 598 square meters. The temple was first built in the 16th year of the Kangxi reign (1677) during the Qing Dynasty, and was renovated in the 56th year of Kangxi (1717) and the 11th year of Qianlong (1746). It was destroyed by war in 1855 and rebuilt in 1867 during the Tongzhi era. In the 4th year of the Republic of China (1915), Lu Rongting, while traveling from Guiping to Fuchuan, visited Ciyun Temple and proposed constructing a flower-lined street connecting the temple to Huixi Bridge. Eventually, this proposal was realized through the efforts of relevant parties. During the Republican period, the temple was repurposed as the “Zhongshan Memorial Hall.”

The temple complex includes two Buddhist halls, with side rooms on the east and west sides. The courtyard between the halls is paved with pebbles, and each hall features a six-pillar raised-beam frame structure. The rear hall has a round moon gate that leads directly to Riguang Pagoda. In 1980, both Riguang Pagoda and Ciyun Temple were designated as county-level key cultural relics protection units. Ciyun Temple now houses the county cultural relics management office and contains two exhibition halls—one displaying revolutionary relics and the other showcasing ancient artifacts.