Zhenfeng Pagoda

　　 Anqing’s Zhenfeng Pagoda stands by the Yangtze River and is known as the No. 1 Pagoda on the mighty Yangtze. The pagoda in the park is built at half scale, featuring a seven-story, octagonal pavilion-style structure. It was meticulously designed by the eminent Taoist Zhang Wencai from Beijing’s White Cloud Temple. Legend has it that it was constructed to promote literary prosperity. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it boasts a history of over 400 years.

　　 Zhenfeng Pagoda, also known as a stupa or Buddhist pagoda. After Buddhism spread to China from India, numerous pagodas rose across the land, integrating with traditional Chinese architecture to form a unique Buddhist architectural culture with national characteristics. Originally, the pagoda served to enshrine the relics of the Buddha, acting as an object of reverence for Buddhists. A pagoda often became the central structure of a temple. However, as the construction of Buddhist halls gained prominence, the significance of the pagoda gradually diminished—yet it did not vanish. On the contrary, the richly diverse landscape of Chinese gardens embraced the pagoda as an architectural element, often serving as the focal point within a garden.

　　 Yingjiang Temple stands majestically on the eastern banks of the river. Known historically as Huguo Yongchang Chan Temple, it is also called Wanfo Temple. It was first built in the seventh year of the Kaibao era of the Northern Song Dynasty (974). In the forty-seventh year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1619), local gentry Ruan Zihua raised funds for its renovation. With its resplendent halls and grand momentum, it became a renowned riverside temple.

　　　　The temple complex consists of ancient buildings including halls, chambers, pavilions, towers, rooms, a pagoda, and gardens, covering an area of 22,000 square meters. The riverside mountain gate features three bold, gold-plated Chinese characters “Yingjiang Temple” inscribed by Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty—powerful, steady, and shining brilliantly. The white marble gate arch is adorned with a bas-relief of a four-clawed dragon, poised as if leaping into the river. Flanking the gate are two large iron anchors, each weighing about three tons, a feature unique among temples. Stepping through the gate leads you to the Heavenly King Hall, where the Maitreya Buddha sits in the shrine, flanked by the Four Heavenly Kings, each with distinct expressions. Ascending 28 steps takes you to the Mahavira Hall, bearing a plaque inscribed by Zhao Puchu. Inside, the benevolent-faced Sakyamuni Buddha is joined by the serene and reverent Ananda and Kasyapa; the Four Great Bodhisattvas—Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Guanyin, and Ksitigarbha—and the Medicine Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, along with the eighteen arhats who subdue dragons and tigers, all exude unique charm and lifelike detail. Further back is the Vairocana Hall, housing the solemn deities Vairocana, Indra, and Brahma, majestically presiding over the hall. Behind the hall lies the “Sea Island” group sculpture depicting the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas paying homage to Guanyin. The fourth hall is the Scripture Depository, which treasures the Ming Dynasty Guangzong Emperor’s bestowed gold-inked “Lotus Sutra” and sketches of the Goddess of Mercy, among other precious artifacts. The temple houses nearly 500 statues of deities and Buddhas, along with golden plaques bestowed by Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and Empress Dowager Cixi, inscribed with “Good Lion’s Roar” and “Marvelous Mirror of Clarity.”

　　　　For centuries, Yingjiang Temple has enjoyed flourishing incense offerings and produced many eminent monks. At its peak, the temple housed up to a thousand monks, hence the preserved bronze “Thousand-People Cauldron.” Over the dynasties, poets, scholars, and high-ranking officials have visited the temple to admire its scenery. The Yingjiang Pavilion within the temple offers pilgrims and visitors a place to dine and rest, where they can savor traditional vegetarian dishes described as “too refined for the nobility to fully appreciate, yet clearly exquisitely prepared.” Hidden among flowers and trees, sites such as “Yiyuan,” “Keyiting,” and “Wangta Ting” are also distinctive landmarks.