Langchi HuiLong Pagoda

Langchi HuiLong Pagoda

Langchi HuiLong Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

HuiLong Pagoda is located on Meijialiang in Langchi Town, Yingshan County. It was primarily constructed in the Jiashen year of the Daoguang era during the Qing Dynasty (1824) under the direction of Yang Shangrong, the then-county magistrate of Yingshan. The pagoda is hexagonal in shape and cone-like, standing 33.2 meters tall with a base length of 3.8 meters. The top level has sides that are 2 meters long. It consists of nine levels, each tapering upwards, with upturned eaves resembling high beaks, standing majestically. Each level has six gates, some open and some closed. The door pillars at the base are inscribed with a stone couplet: “The pillar steadies the rail, clarifying the bright waters; the unique peak rises from the earth, revealing the beauty of Sui Mountain.” The upper inscription reads: “First Spring of the Jiashen Year, Daoguang Era.” The lintel is engraved in intaglio with the three characters “HuiLong Pagoda.” The third, fifth, sixth, and ninth levels are inscribed respectively with the horizontal plaques: “Might Shakes Rivers and Streams,” “Little Eagle Pagoda,” “Radiance over the Purple Pole,” and “Literary Fortune Emerges from the East.” The pagoda finial is composed of three cone-shaped gourd levels, all made of grayish-blue pottery, “with lotus bases connecting each gourd level. The four sides of the lower gourd feature two dragons fighting over a pearl.” The first and second levels of the pagoda body were originally painted, but the colors have now faded. The second-level door originally featured a bronze casting of two dragons playing with a pearl, which was destroyed by lightning during the late Qing and early Republican period. Inside the pagoda, there are 88 stone steps spiraling upwards, leading directly to the top. From the top, one can gaze into the distance, seeing the majestic Sui Mountain, the Lang River like a belt, and the vast expanse of sky and land all in one sweeping view.

The construction of HuiLong Pagoda is scientific, its structure exquisite, and its style unique, giving it significant cultural relic value. On December 15, 1994, it was announced as a cultural relic protection unit by the Nanchong Municipal People's Government. For nearly two hundred years, it has stood proudly through wind, frost, rain, and snow, and remains as solid as a rock despite thunder and lightning. It is indeed a testament to the ingenious craftsmanship and exceptional artistry of the laborers and artisans.

Legend has it that the reason for constructing HuiLong Pagoda was that during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, Yang Shangke from Ningyuan, Liaoning, took office in Yingshan. Upon arrival, he first surveyed the terrain and understood the local conditions. Climbing to the peak of Sui Mountain, he overlooked the entire county town, which was long from east to west but narrow from north to south, resembling the shape of a boat. The Confucian Temple, situated higher up, looked like the rudder, while the Paper Market, Outer South, Salt Market, and Little North streets resembled the four oars of a boat. However, it lacked a mast, causing the boat to drift aimlessly on the rivers. Although Yingshan produced many talented individuals, they seemed unable to make their way out into the world. He suddenly realized the reason: the shape of the county town resembled a boat, surrounded on all sides by the southern and northern rivers, and without a mast, the boat could not reach the shore. Thus, he decided to build HuiLong Pagoda on the backwater ridge of Meijia Bridge to correct the literary atmosphere. He thus chose to build this HuiLong Pagoda on Meijialiang in the eastern part of the city. After the pagoda was built, Yingshan produced nine Hanlin scholars in three consecutive years, which corresponds to the ninth-level horizontal plaque “Literary Fortune Goes to Sea.” With the pagoda completed, it stood like a mast. Even amidst turbulent rapids and whirlpools, the boat sailed as if on steady ground. This pagoda also resembles a writing brush, pointing directly to the North Star and the literary star, shining brilliantly under the sun and moon. Thereafter, many scholars from the county who went to take the imperial examinations were successively selected as Hanlin scholars. Later generations praised: “The white pagoda city, with upright literary atmosphere; the clear Lang water, bringing joy to peaceful times.” The materials used to build the pagoda were repurposed to construct “Yunfeng Academy,” which is now Yingshan Yunfeng Primary School. On December 15, 1994, HuiLong Pagoda was announced as a cultural relic protection unit by the Nanchong Municipal People's Government.

Protected area: The pagoda base extends 50 meters eastward, 30 meters southward, 150 meters westward, and 100 meters northward.

Construction control zone: An additional 50 meters beyond the protected area.

Langchi Subdistrict: In 2019, Langchi Town was abolished and Langchi Subdistrict was established. The former administrative regions of Xinxing Community, Cuiping Community, and Heyan Community of the original Langchi Town, as well as Hongguang Village, Wutong Village, Jiuqu Village, Shishan Village, Qinxin Village, Jiuling Village, Qixin Village, Furong Village, Gujing Village, Shizi Village, Tianjing Village, and Beiba Community, Xiyuehu Community, and Yunfengshan Community of Suian Subdistrict, were placed under the jurisdiction of Langchi Subdistrict. The Langchi Subdistrict Office is located at No. 163 Xincheng Road.

Langchi Town is the seat of Yingshan County and serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the entire county. It covers an area of 46.9 square kilometers, with a total... More detailed information about Langchi Subdistrict++

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units