Gaode Ancient Town

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Nong'an Liao Pagoda

As one of the eight immovable cultural relics in Changchun selected for the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, it encompasses the most representative cultural heritage of Changchun from the Bronze Age through the Liao and Jin dynasties, the late Qing Dynasty, the puppet Manchukuo period, and the early years of the People's Republic of China. Among them, the majestic and ancient Nong'an Liao Pagoda symbolizes Huanglongfu and Nong'an. It is one of the rare cultural relics from the Liao and Jin periods in northern China and also the northernmost ancient pagoda in the country.

Located at the intersection of Huanglong Road and Bao Ta Street in Nong'an County, the Nong'an Liao Pagoda, also known as Huanglong Tower or Longwan Tower, is the only surviving ancient structure from the Liao-era Huanglongfu.

The Nong'an Liao Pagoda is an octagonal, thirteen-story solid brick pagoda with dense eaves. It consists of a base, body, and spire, with a total height of 44 meters. The base is octagonal, each side measuring 7 meters, and 1 meter in height. The base of the pagoda body has an east-west diameter of 8 meters and a north-south diameter of 8.30 meters, constructed with various types of blue bricks, flat tiles, tubular tiles, gable tiles, and water-patterned tiles.

At the junction of the spire and the pagoda body, the eight sloping ridges are adorned with various carved beasts—lions at the front, dragon-horses in the middle, and ridge beasts at the rear. On both sides of the ridges are four raised straight tubular tiles, each capped with a round tile-end engraved with double loops and the character “喜” (happiness) in the center. At the tail ends of the ridge beasts is an iron ring from which 104 phoenix bells are hung across the 13 stories. Each bell contains a three-winged clapper, with a cross-shaped striker welded onto it. When the wind blows, the bells chime melodiously with a pleasing metallic sound. According to the Nong'an Local Chronicles published in 1905 (the 31st year of the Guangxu reign), bronze mirrors were also inlaid around the pagoda.

Above the pagoda body is the spire. The base of the spire consists of three tiers of open lotus petals. Above the lotus petals sits a bulging, slender-necked open-mouthed precious vase, atop which is a gilded copper "mandorla" engraved with coiled floral patterns in the shape of a cartwheel. Above the mandorla is a gilded copper crescent moon, pointing upward, with double-layered hollow edges and cloud motifs carved in the middle. Above the crescent are inlaid five gilded copper treasure beads. Above the second bead is a canopy, topped with two gourd-shaped beads connected together. The canopy is welded with four copper lotus stems, each hanging from an iron hook on the pagoda ridge.

The Nong'an Liao Pagoda is a key cultural relic under protection in Jilin Province and a landmark building of Nong'an. Also called Huanglong Tower or Longwan Tower, it is the only surviving ancient structure from the Liao-era Huanglongfu. According to current academic consensus, it was built between the third and tenth years of the Taiping era (1023–1030 AD) during the reign of Emperor Shengzong (Yelü Longxu) of the Liao Dynasty, making it nearly a thousand years old and the northernmost Buddhist pagoda in China. The pagoda is built of solid brick in a dense-eave style, octagonal with thirteen stories, and stands 44 meters tall. It consists of a base, body, and spire, featuring elegant and dignified design that showcases the architectural artistry of the Liao Dynasty.

Regarding the origin of the pagoda, there is a legend: during the reign of Emperor Shengzong of the Liao Dynasty, astronomers once observed the night sky and suddenly spotted a massive star falling near Huanglongfu. They urgently reported to the emperor, warning that a local earth dragon might emerge in the Huanglongfu area, and advising the immediate construction of a pagoda to suppress it. Alarmed that the earth dragon might vie for his throne, the emperor promptly ordered the astronomers to build the pagoda in Huanglongfu, thus giving rise to the Nong'an Liao Pagoda. According to the evaluation method outlined in the National Standard of the People’s Republic of China for Tourism Resource Classification, Investigation, and Evaluation, the Liao Pagoda has been rated as a fifth-grade tourism resource and holds significant practical value and meaning for “promoting Huanglong culture and establishing a distinctive cultural county.” The Nong'an County Party Committee and County Government place high importance on the tourism and cultural development of the Liao Pagoda, and plan to fully launch the Liao Pagoda Garden project. Centered around the pagoda, this project will include the construction of Huanglong Temple and the Huanglong History Museum, fully reflecting Liao-Jin culture, Huanglong culture, and Guandong culture. Following the principles of “highlighting characteristics, creating quality attractions, rational development, and sustainable use,” the Liao Pagoda Garden will be developed into a theme park integrating sightseeing, science education, entertainment, shopping, and dining.