Xinfeng Wild Goose Pagoda

Xinfeng Wild Goose Pagoda

The Xinfeng Wild Goose Pagoda is a cultural relic protection unit of Guangdong Province.

Also known as Wenfeng Pagoda, the Xinfeng Wild Goose Pagoda is located on Laowei Mountain behind Shuangjiao Village in the eastern suburbs of Xinfeng County. Built in the fourth year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1739), it is a hexagonal, seven-story brick pagoda with a pavilion-style structure, standing 33.2 meters tall. The base side measures 3.6 meters, with walls 1.57 meters thick. It has six sides, each featuring a door—three of which lead to the inner chamber of the pagoda’s first level, and three of these doors have internal staircases leading up to the second level’s inner chamber. The west-facing door lintel is inscribed with the four characters “Wenguang She Dou” (Literary Light Piercing the Dipper), flanked by the couplet: “The Wild Goose Pagoda Brings Auspiciousness, Illuminating Sun and Moon; The Dragon Gate Unleashes Good Fortune, Stirring Wind and Thunder.” From the second to the seventh levels, each floor has two doors, while the other four sides feature false doors (kuimen). The pagoda’s eaves are built with imitation roof tiles made of brick, which is the most distinctive feature of the pagoda. The original internal staircase wrapped around the central column and allowed visitors to spiral up to the top, but the surrounding terrace was shallow and narrow without railings. During the 1986 restoration, wooden flooring was added, along with an internal wooden staircase within the pagoda shaft.

In 1984, the Xinfeng County People's Government designated it as a cultural relic protection unit. On July 17, 2002, it was included in the fourth batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Guangdong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units