Ao Mountain Pagoda

Ao Mountain Pagoda

Ao Mountain Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Mengshan County.

Ao Mountain Pagoda, formerly called the "Literary Brush" by the locals of Mengshan, is located at the southeastern corner of Mengshan County. It earned its name because the pagoda was built atop a mountain that resembles a giant sea turtle (ao). The main tower was first constructed in the 27th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1762), with additional sections added during the Jiaqing era. It was demolished during the Cultural Revolution as part of the campaign against the "Four Olds." The current pagoda was rebuilt in 1985.

The pagoda has five stories and a hexagonal shape, built with red bricks, reinforced concrete, and steel. Each level features its own eaves, and the top is covered with glazed tiles, crowned with a lotus-petaled pedestal holding a ceramic gourd.

On either side of the pagoda’s entrance is a couplet written in February 1987 by Hong Kong-based wuxia novelist Liang Yusheng (original name Chen Wentong), a native of Mengshan County, during his visit back home. The couplet reads: “The radiance of literature shines upon the sun; ascending to this lofty height, one’s heart and mind open wide, witnessing the homeland turning a new page; the stroke of the brush soars to the clouds—true talent possesses vision, and those who come after shall surpass their predecessors.” The inscriptions above the windows on each level, from bottom to top, still follow the original pagoda’s texts: “Ao Peak Stands Alone in Beauty,” “Climbing the Cloud Ladder to Find the Way,” “Vital Energy Fills the Center,” “Light Piercing Through the Southern Dipper,” and “Soaring Straight to the Heavenly Palace.” The eaves of each level are adorned with vibrant and colorful patterns. At the foot of the pagoda lies a serene, ancient temple—Yong’an Temple—where the sounds of sutras echo continuously and incense smoke rises without ceasing. When the setting sun casts its glow and hundreds of birds return to their nests, Ao Mountain Pagoda appears especially enchanting, captivating visitors who find it hard to leave.