Linglong Park

　　The Cishou Temple Pagoda in Linglong Park, originally named “Yong’an Wanshou Pagoda,” is located within Cishou Temple in Balizhuang, Haidian District, Beijing. It was built in imitation of the Tianning Temple Pagoda. The temple was constructed in the fourth year of the Wanli era (1576) by Empress Dowager Cisheng, the mother of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty. When Emperor Wanli ascended the throne, he was only ten years old, and all internal and external state affairs were managed by Empress Dowager Li. A devout Buddhist, Empress Dowager Li ordered the construction and renovation of many Buddhist temples across the capital during her regency, and Cishou Temple was one of them.

　　The site was originally the burial ground of eunuch Gu Dayong from the Zhengde era (1506–1521) of the Ming Dynasty. The temple was abandoned during the Guangxu era (1875–1908) of the Qing Dynasty, and over a hundred years have passed since then, leaving only the solitary pagoda standing on the ruins of the former temple grounds. The original pagoda was built in the fourth year of the Wanli era (1576). Tall and elegant, it is a brick-and-stone structure with an octagonal floor plan, thirteen stories, and a height of over fifty meters. It is a solid, dense-eave style pagoda. The base is made of brick and designed in the shape of a Sumeru pedestal, adorned with carvings of Buddha figures, flying apsaras, guardian warriors, celestial gates, eight treasures, and upward-facing lotus petals. Notably, the upper section features carvings of a full set of musical instruments, which is extremely rare. The first story of the pagoda body is tall, with four false doors on the front and four false windows on the other sides. Buddha statues are carved on both sides of the doors and windows, and the lintel of the southern door is inlaid with a stone plaque inscribed with “Yong’an Wanshou Pagoda.” Above the pagoda body are thirteen tiers of dense eaves, and the spire is crowned with a giant precious bead supported by an upward-facing lotus pedestal. The exquisitely carved brick designs featuring floral patterns are vivid and delicate. This pagoda is a representative work of the dense-eave style pagodas of the Ming Dynasty and is now listed as a cultural relic protection unit of Beijing. Beside the pagoda are two stone steles from the Wanli era (1573–1620) of the Ming Dynasty, featuring finely carved line engravings of the Bodhisattva Guanyin and the deity Guan Yu.

　　

　　Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development