Zhenggang Pagoda

　　Zhenggang Pagoda is located on a large earthen mound east of Yungang Village, Changxindian, Fengtai District, Beijing. It was designated as a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit in 1957.

　　The pagoda was built during the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234). Legend has it that the site was situated on a dragon vein, and the builders were concerned that the vein might collapse or shift, so they constructed the pagoda to suppress it, hence renaming it “Zhenggang Pagoda” (Pagoda for Suppressing the Mound). It was renovated in the 40th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1561).

　　The pagoda is built of brick, has an octagonal floor plan, is solid, and stands 18 meters tall in total. The base features exquisitely simple brick carvings and decorative patterns. Each side of the pagoda is three meters wide, with a total circumference of 24 meters, and it follows the style of a flower pagoda. The upper part is adorned with carved brick brackets, and the spandrels are intricately carved with blooming potted flowers, fierce beast heads, deities, and more, all extremely detailed. The body of the pagoda has short eaves extending outward, topped with a Sumeru pedestal, which supports seven tiers of Buddha niches arranged in a circle to form a massive conical bouquet. The first tier of niches is a double-layered pavilion-style square tower, while those from the second tier upward are all single-layer pavilion-style square towers. Above the first tier, the pagoda is surrounded by densely packed Buddha niches, each housing a Buddha statue seated inside—some with palms pressed together, others with arms raised—and all with solemn, lifelike expressions. From the second tier’s finial upward, the Buddha statues on each face are neatly arranged. The finial consists of an octagonal base atop the finial wheels, crowned with a large precious bead. The pagoda’s shape shows a distinct gradual tapering. Such ancient pagodas are rare in China today, making this one particularly valuable.

　　Repairs were carried out in 1958, 1982, and 2001.

　　[Location] East of Yungang Village, Changxindian, Fengtai District

　　[Transportation] Take Bus 339 to Yun’gang Station, then walk toward the northern Yun’gang area to the railway bridge

Zhenggang Pagoda is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.