Xian'gou Pagoda

　　Jianlong Pagoda, also known as Xian'gou Pagoda, is situated on Longgun Slope, about 7 kilometers southeast of Ding'an County in Hainan Province. It is one of the better-preserved and earlier-built ancient pagodas in Hainan Province. The pagoda is constructed from bricks and stones, has seven stories, and stands 25 meters tall. Designed according to the eight trigrams of the *I Ching*, it has an octagonal shape, with walls engraved with characters such as “sun, moon, stars, celestial bodies, heaven, earth, darkness, and yellow.” The main gate on the ground floor is inscribed with the phrases “favorable weather and good harvests, peace for the nation and its people,” which are still clearly legible today.

　　Jianlong Pagoda has a total of 28 solid gates, and their arrangement is scientifically designed. Each level has eight real and false gates—on the first floor, three real gates (east, west, and north) are open, while the other five are false. On the second floor, the arrangement is the opposite, with five real gates and three false ones. This interplay of real and false gates spirals upward to prevent vertical cracking of the pagoda structure. The pavilion-style pagoda is hollow inside, with internal brick staircases leading to each level. The entire pagoda uses no modern construction materials—no cement, no iron nails, no supports. The bricks are bonded together with primitive materials like glutinous rice, and despite more than 200 years of fierce winds and lightning strikes, the pagoda still stands firmly.

　　Construction of Ding'an's Jianlong Pagoda began in the 16th year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1751 AD). The then-county magistrate Wu Wenjun and local gentry Lin Qihao, among others, donated funds to start the project, but it remained unfinished. It wasn’t until the 33rd year of Qianlong’s reign (1765 AD) that magistrate Wu Xianju and another local gentry member resumed construction and completed the pagoda. The Jianlong Pagoda stands over 20 meters tall, with an octagonal, seven-story pavilion-style design. Its bricks bear individual characters from the *Thousand Character Classic*. The front of the ground floor features the inscription “Jianlong Pagoda.” Atop the pagoda’s inverted-bowl-shaped top sits an iron spire that pierces the blue sky. Visitors can spiral up the internal brick staircase to reach the top, where they can gaze at the southern bank of the Jian River and enjoy the picturesque scenery along and beyond the river—a delightful experience that refreshes both the mind and spirit.

　　The blend of historical chance and inevitability adds an air of mystery to Jianlong Pagoda. Writers and artists visiting Ding'an, Hainan, never fail to climb the pagoda to admire its wonders and compose poetic tributes.

　　For over 200 years, people have sought the spiritual energy of Jianlong Pagoda in various ways. Young students wishing to excel in their studies would travel great distances to climb the pagoda, gaze into the distance, and pray devoutly, engaging in a form of spiritual cleansing that gradually became a custom. Even today, students in the county continue to enjoy climbing Jianlong Pagoda.

　　Starting in August 2000, Hainan Taling Travel Industry Development Co., Ltd. invested over 60 million yuan to develop the area around Jianlong Pagoda. Efforts included clearing burial mounds, planting grass and trees, and restoring the ancient pagoda. After enduring the test of time, Jianlong Pagoda has regained its former glory.