Kaiyuan Pagoda

　　   Kaiyuan Pagoda is situated on the third peak of Lingyang Mountain at the site of the former Kaiyuan Temple in downtown Xuancheng (currently to the right of Xuancheng Cinema), and was initially called Yong Pagoda. The pagoda’s name changed along with that of the temple — during the Tang Dynasty it was known as the Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda, in the Song Dynasty as the Jingde Temple Pagoda, also referred to as the Duobao Pagoda, and in the Qing Dynasty as the Yongning Pagoda. The pagoda has stood for over 1,600 years since its initial construction. It has been “damaged and repaired intermittently,” undergoing one major restoration in the 18th year of the Republic of China (1929), and two more after the liberation. The existing structure is a nine-story, six-sided brick pagoda, standing 34 meters tall. Inside, there is a spiral wooden staircase that allows visitors to climb all the way to the top. From the summit, the surrounding landscape and waterscapes of the city area can be fully appreciated. The famous Ming Dynasty playwright Tang Xianzu, during his time in Xuancheng, composed a poem titled “The Stupa of Kaiyuan Temple.” It reads: “Sitting facing the lotus tower, I gaze at the clouds over Baixian. Violet mist wells up north of the city, emerald ripples divide the waters to the west. Summit trees seem moist with mountain haze, cliff blossoms exhale evening fragrance. Wind-chimes echo Buddhist chants, jade timekeepers chime on their own.” The shadow of Kaiyuan Pagoda is reflected in the Ju Stream, creating the scenic view known as “Pagoda Shadow in Ju Stream,” which is one of the celebrated sights of Xuancheng. In the Qing Dynasty, Liu Fang’ai wrote a poem titled “Pagoda Shadow in Ju Stream”: “A pagoda in the heart of the river city leaks light, wave traces return without confusion. Hanging upside down as if standing from the water, its radiance pierces the sky. The staircase waves layer by layer, climbing the scales as if ascending. No need to boast of the markets of the Eastern Sea, pure and bright as a spiritual rhinoceros.” Over the dynasties, Kaiyuan Pagoda has undergone multiple renovations, resulting in significant changes to its shape and structure. However, the thick iron chains hanging from the three-sectioned vase-shaped finial and protective rings at the top have remained unchanged since the Northern Song Dynasty.

　　   Transportation

　　   Located on Dongmen Street in Xuancheng City, it can be reached by taxi.