Wooden Pagoda

Introduction to Wooden Pagoda (应县木塔)

The Wooden Pagoda is not only the tallest but also the oldest wooden pagoda in China today. Compared with the renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, the Wooden Pagoda in YingXian County is 115 years older and 11.36 meters taller. In the 1950s, this pagoda became a cultural heritage and received a first-class protection.

Located in Yingxian county, about 70 km south of Datong, Wooden Pagoda is the oldest and highest wood structure in China. It is also regarded as the "First Pagoda in the World". As a part of the key historical relics list, Wooden Pagoda was built in 1056 during the Liao Dynasty (AD 907-1125) and is a popular destination for tourists.

The octagonal pagoda is about 70 meters (230 feet) high and consists of six stories as seen from the outside. However, the interior of the pagoda has three hidden floors so in total it has nine stories.

The well-proportioned pagoda was constructed without dowels or nails and used 3,000 cubic meters of wood weighing over 2,600 tons. The pagoda represents state of the art traditional Chinese wooden architecture from that period.

The two gates of the pagoda are the main entrances for tourists. The spiral wooden stairs inside the pagoda help tourists climb to the top. On each floor, there are enshrined valuable Buddhist statues, including an impressive 10-meter-high (32.8 feet) statue of Sakyamuni on the first floor.

In addition, a collection of precious relics can be found in the pagoda, including color-printings from the Liao Dynasty, Buddhist scriptures, and other items of great value reflecting political, economic and cultural development in that period.

Location

Taqian Street of Jincheng Town, Yingxian County, Shuozhou, Shanxi Province （about 70km south of Datong）

Main Sights

Shaka Pagoda, several buddhas, cultural relics in the pagoda

Travel Information

Opening Hours: 7:00am~6:00pm

Admission Fee: 60 yuan

Visiting Time: 1 hour

Best Time to Visit: May to October(when the climate is temperate and it is not that windy and sandy there)

Transportation 

Take bus 19, 28, 30 to Xinnan Station in Datong downtown, then transfer regular bus to Yingxian County. It takes about one hour and fifty minutes.

Travel Tips 

1. It is suggested to link a trip with Hanging Monastery in Hunyuan County between Datong Downtown and Yingxian County.

2. The pagoda is allowed to visit the first floor only out of the consideration to visiters safety and pagoda protection.