Fayun Temple Pagoda

　　Location: Houchong, Jinshan Township, 6 km southeast of Yuexi County, Anqing City, Anhui Province.

　　The stele recording the reconstruction of Fayun Temple during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty states: “The Hou Shan Temple in northern Qian (also known as Fayun Temple) features a seven-story pagoda, built during the Xianhe era of the Jin Dynasty (326–334 AD). During the Xianfeng era, fires ravaged the region, leaving the pagoda intact but destroying all the surrounding structures...” The reconstructed Fayun Temple was demolished in 1958. The existing ancient pagoda is currently the tallest Buddhist structure in the county. It is a square-shaped, seven-story pagoda, standing 28 meters tall, with flying eaves and bracket sets, characteristic of a pavilion-style architecture. The base of the pagoda is 3.5 meters wide and 1.35 meters high, built from strip stones. At its center lies a tower core chamber, hollow up to the top, with each of the four sides of every level featuring 10 brick-carved niches. Each niche houses three Buddha statues—one large and two small—created using molded patterns, with the central figure being Sakyamuni, flanked by Kasyapa and Ananda. In total, there are 1,680 statues (hence it is also called the Thousand Buddha Pagoda). The figures are vividly crafted, lifelike and expressive.

　　In October 1988, the pagoda was designated as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit by the Provincial People's Government.