Hepu Wenchang Pagoda

Hepu Wenchang Pagoda

Hepu Wenchang Pagoda is a cultural tourism attraction.

Hepu Wenchang Pagoda is located about 3 kilometers south of Hepu County in Guangxi. It was first built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of over 300 years. The pagoda is octagonal, standing approximately 36 meters tall with an 8.1-meter base and an inner diameter of 2.6 meters. It is a seven-story overlapping eaves brick pagoda, with its shape gradually narrowing from the bottom up. The top features a red gourd. Each level has east-west ventilation doors, namely the Kun Gate and the Phoenix Gate, while the others are decorative false doors. Inside the pagoda, there are spiral staircases leading upward. The body of the pagoda is white, with red edges at the corners and archways, creating a bright contrast between red and white that is both simple and elegant. From the top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the distant scenery of Beihai. The name "Wenchang Pagoda" reflects the symbolism of the civilizing power of the southern fire element.

Wenchang Pagoda is now considered the foremost pagoda in southern Guangxi and holds significant value for the study of ancient culture, art, and architectural mechanics. The pagoda was first built in the 12th year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1584) and has undergone five renovations, with the last one taking place in 1985. The pagoda stands 37 meters tall, has a planar octagonal shape, and is a seven-story pavilion-style brick structure. The first level has a diameter of 8.56 meters. The pagoda faces south with its back to the north. Each level’s corner eaves is adorned with a turtle fish above and a “dragon kiss” below. The interior staircases were originally made of wooden planks but were replaced with cement structures during the last renovation. Iron pipe railings were also added at that time. The top is covered with an iron circular wheel and a copper base (the copper base was lost during a typhoon in 1950).

Wenchang Pagoda has undergone five renovations, all carried out while preserving its original appearance. The first renovation took place in the 28th year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1763); the second was in the first year of the Jiaqing era (1796). After this renovation, on the night of May 23 of the following year, “a fiery light shot from the top of the pagoda straight into the clouds, witnessed by all the residents in the city. The next day, the pagoda suddenly collapsed without reason.” Thereafter, in the 22nd year of the Jiaqing era (1817), local gentry raised over 4,000 gold pieces to carry out the third reconstruction. The fourth renovation occurred in 1959, funded by 7,000 yuan raised by local people. The fifth and most recent renovation was completed in December 1985, thanks to a donation of 58,000 yuan from Mr. Tan Shuzhao, an overseas Chinese in Japan. Wenchang Pagoda is majestic and grand, “towering proudly into the sky, standing opposite the Wenbi Pagoda, which is how it got its name.”

Hepu Wenchang Pagoda is located near national key cultural relics protection unit Dashi Pavilion, as well as provincial-level protected ancient tomb complexes. In addition, the area around Hepu Wenchang Pagoda includes the national-level Shankou Mangrove Ecological Nature Reserve and the autonomous region-level tourist resort — Nanguo Xingdao Lake. Covering an area of over 6,660 hectares, the lake features 1,026 islands of various sizes and boasts stunning scenery. In May 1996, the outdoor filming base “Water Margin City” for the large-scale TV series “Water Margin,” produced by China Central Television, was completed and put into use here, adding more attractions to the tourist area. Together with Beihai Silver Beach, it forms a unique contrast of salty and fresh water landscapes, attracting numerous domestic and international visitors.

Lianzhou Town: Lianzhou Town is situated on the shores of the Beibu Gulf and serves as the seat of Hepu County People's Government, making it the political, economic, and cultural center of Hepu. The town covers an area of 229 square kilometers and governs 29 village (residential) committees. The arable land area is 4,047.3 hectares. By the end of 2001, the town had a population of 150,000, making it the largest town in Hepu County. National Highways 325 and 209, the North-South Second-Class Highway, and the expressway all pass through the town. It is only 16 kilometers from Beihai International Airport and 30 kilometers from Beihai Port. The Qinzhou-Beihai Railway has a station in the southern suburbs of Lianzhou. With convenient sea, land, and air transportation links, the town enjoys a highly advantageous location.

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