Zhao Guan Stone Pagoda, China's unique, ancient over-street pagoda

Runzhou District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, Boxian Park (south of Changjiang Road)

Architecture in the Yuan Dynasty

4.2

Introduction

On the slopes of Wushisan at the north foot of Xiyuntai Mountain in Zhenjiang City, one can see the silhouette of the Zhao Guan Stone Pagoda. This stone pagoda, built in the form of a Lamaist pagoda in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, is a relic of Buddhism. The pagoda is about 469 meters high and is all made of stone. The bottom is made up of four stone pillars laid up with boulders, while the top is covered with stone slabs, forming a framed pedestal. The body and the top of the pagoda together form the appearance of a stone vase, hence the name "vase pagoda". The same characters are engraved on the horizontal plaques on the east and west sides of the pagoda, with the left and right sides respectively inscribed with titles such as Dantu, Zhenjiang County, and Prefect, indicating that it was renovated in the tenth year of the Wanli reign (1582) and inlaid with "Babao" reliefs, symbolizing the pagoda belonging to the thirteen layers of heaven. It is said that the Zhao Guan Stone Pagoda was built as a "stone vase" during the alliance between Sun Quan and Liu Bei in the Three Kingdoms period.

Address

Runzhou District, Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, Boxian Park (south of Changjiang Road)

Opening hours

All day (Monday through Sunday, January 1 to December 31)

Phone 0511-85288555;0511-80856389