Tianshou Temple Grand Pagoda

　　   Address: North side of Yingchun Street, Guangde County, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province.

　　   The Tianshou Temple Pagoda was originally built with five stories. In the second year of the Yuanyou era of the Song Dynasty (1099), the pagoda was destroyed by fire. Between the third year of Yuanyou (1100) and the fourth year of Chongning (1105), it was rebuilt as a seven-story structure. Towering in height, it is a representative example of the Jiangnan pavilion-style architecture, featuring a brick-and-wood structure, overhanging eaves, upturned corners, and wind bells hanging from the angles. It stands 31.34 meters tall. In the 35th year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era (1607) and the 7th year of the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi era (1668), it underwent two more renovations. In the 26th year of the Guangxu era (1900), it was destroyed by fire, leaving only the brick tower body. In October 1983, an underground “palace chamber” was discovered. This “palace chamber” is a straight-walled brick pit, 110 cm deep, with a square base measuring 32 cm on each side.

　　   Inside the chamber was a stone stele inscribed with the history of the pagoda. It was renovated again in 1986. The restored Grand Shengbao Pagoda largely retains its original features: seven stories, six sides, six-tiered flying eaves, and an iron-chain-style spire, standing a total of 42.8 meters high. The base covers an area of 46 square meters and is paved with blue bricks. Wind bells hang from the eaves of each level, producing pleasant chimes in the breeze, bringing the seven-story pagoda back to its former glory. Inside the pagoda, a spiral staircase leads to the top, offering a panoramic view of the mountain city. At the same time, a pagoda courtyard was constructed, planted with exotic flowers, plants, potted landscapes, and rockeries. The exhibition room displays cultural relics and artifacts from various dynasties for visitors to admire.

　　   In 1956, it was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit. The Tianshou Temple Grand Pagoda was first built in the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (979), while Tianshou Temple was established during the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty (around 905). The pagoda took its name from the temple, hence the name Tianshou Temple Grand Shengbao Pagoda.