Neijiang Sanyuan Pagoda

Neijiang Sanyuan Pagoda

Neijiang Sanyuan Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

Sanyuan Pagoda is located on Sanyuan Mountain on the right bank of the Tuojiang River, approximately four kilometers south of Neijiang City. It was originally built during the Tang Dynasty but collapsed in the late Ming Dynasty. A city as historic as Han’an (Neijiang) could not be without a pagoda, so after the collapse, efforts began to construct the Gaosi Pagoda.

In the tenth year of the Jiaqing reign (1805), Sanyuan Pagoda was rebuilt. According to the "Neijiang County Annals": “Gentry such as Luo Liangcun, Zou Yanzao, Chen Ziwang, and Liu Zhongyuan from ten li petitioned the county magistrate Gu Wen’ao for funding, with the lead of local gentry and landowners joyfully supporting the project. They restored the site to its former foundation and rebuilt the pagoda, consisting of ten stories, standing eight zhang and eight chi tall.” In the twentieth year of Jiaqing (1815), a local man Ai Rongsong inscribed a stone preface which read: “The literary culture of our county in this dynasty (Qing) has long fallen short of past glory, due to the absence of the North Pagoda—and also because the two islets, large and small, are being eroded by the river, yet no embankments have been built to protect them. Without the pagoda there is no radiance in the front, and without the embankment there is no support behind.” He attributed the decline in culture and stagnation in official fortunes to the absence of the rebuilt pagoda. Thus, the locals petitioned to rebuild the pagoda in an effort to correct Neijiang’s feng shui.

The Sanyuan Pagoda was constructed primarily using large blue bricks. The body of the pagoda is octagonal, resting on a square stone base. The main façade of the ground floor features a circular stone arch door, while all other levels are lined with light windows. Inside the pagoda, 140 spiral stone steps lead to the top. When it was newly rebuilt, the entire exterior was coated with lime, giving it the appearance of being carved from white jade—an impressive sight visible for dozens of li.

This pagoda stands majestically and gracefully. Set against the beautifully scenic Sanyuan Mountain, the structure looks even more strikingly upright. During festivals, visitors flock to see it without end.

Protected area: extend 16.8 meters east from the base, 12 meters south, 15.5 meters west, and 14 meters north.

Construction control zone: bounded by the protected area, extending east to the second cliff level, south and west to the boundaries of Tashan Park, and north to the pagoda access staircase.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units