Langzhong Wenbi Pagoda

Langzhong Wenbi Pagoda

Langzhong Wenbi Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The Langzhong White Pagoda is located on Bai Ta Mountain in Langzhong, Sichuan—hailed as “the Finest Scenic Mountains and Rivers under Heaven.” Built in the late Ming Dynasty, it has thirteen stories and stands twenty-nine meters tall. Its outer structure has twelve levels, while the inner part has six, featuring a spiral staircase of ninety-one steps that allows visitors to climb and enjoy views through the windows from various perspectives of Langzhong.

The white pagoda is perched atop a high mountain on the outer side of the Jialing River, east of the city. When you climb to the top and look northwest, the cliff beneath your feet is not visible, giving you the sensation of soaring through the sky.

The Langzhong White Pagoda is a feng shui pagoda, combining features of both the closely-eaved and pavilion styles. Its base is an octagonal Sumeru pedestal built from stone, while the main body is an octagonal stone cone covered in white plaster. Cleverly utilizing the rugged mountain terrain, it majestically stands atop the eastern peak of Dongshan, across the Jialing River from Langzhong city, making it another iconic landmark of Langzhong. It’s also referred to as Wenbi Pagoda, with poetic plaques and inscriptions. Together with nearby attractions such as the Great Buddha Temple and Zhuangyuan Cave in the nearby mountain bay, it forms the Dongshan Garden Scenic Area—one of Langzhong’s prime tourist destinations.

Returning from Zhuangyuan Mountain to Pagoda Mountain, you’ll find the white pagoda standing atop the hill. In the early morning, its shadow is reflected in the river, swaying playfully with the water. Built during the Ming Dynasty, the pagoda has 13 stories and rises over 29 meters into the azure sky, resembling a jade shoot. Inside, a spiral staircase of 91 steps leads to the top. There are windows on all four sides, and climbing to the summit offers panoramic views of undulating green hills, shimmering blue waves, boats coming and going, birds calling overhead, and city towers and pavilions spread out before you. Originally, there was a White Pagoda Temple behind the pagoda, which was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. The pagoda itself was once struck by lightning. In 1992, the Xiangcheng Palace was rebuilt behind the pagoda. It collapsed in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and was reconstructed in 2009.

Protective boundary: To the front (west), it is bounded by the steep gate at the upper end of Pagoda Mountain. To the rear (east), it is bounded by the first ridge of the back hill. To the left (south) and right (north), it is bordered by the natural layers of the terrain at each level.

Construction control zone: A buffer of 50 meters beyond the protective boundary.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Sichuan Province