Pagoda of Chengtian Temple, aka Chengtiansi Pagoda or Western Pagoda, is located in the Chengtian Temple (Chengtiansi) in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It was originally built in 1050 in the Western Xia Dynasty (1032-1227) and is the highest brick pagoda among more than one hundred others in Ningxia.
During almost one thousand years, Pagoda of Chengtian Temple has suffered from many troubles. The one now standing erect in Yinchuan is not the original one, but was rebuilt in 1820 according to its primary design. It still has distinctive architectural art in the style of Western Xia Dynasty. With a total height of 64.5 meters (some 211 feet), Pagoda of Chengtian Temple is half a meter (about 1.6 feet) higher than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an. It is an octagonal structure with 11 wooden floors. The small iron bells hanging on the corners of the Pagoda ring in the soft winds. The sweet bells will inspire your imagination. Through a wooden stairway, people can access to the top of the Pagoda, where looking out of the window, they can perceive a fine view of the ancient city of Yinchuan.
Pagoda of Chengtian Temple is the only one to record its actual building time in writing. According to the history record, in 1050, it was built in order to bless the child King, Li Liangzuo, who was only one year old when he was enthroned after the death of his father Li Yuanhao, the founding King of Western Xia. It took tens of thousands of soldiers about six years to build the Chengtian Temple and the Pagoda of Chengtian Temple. When completed, the young King and his mother often came here to listen to the sermons of the famous high-level monks.
Pagoda of Chengtian Temple has been well preserved and become one of key protected cultural relic sites. In addition, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum is located in the Temple. It mainly displays rare cultural relics of the Western Xia Dynasty and Ningxia, and has now become one of the most important places to visit for both sightseeing and recreational purposes.
How to get to Pagoda of Chengtian Temple
1. Take Bus 19, 23, 40 or Touirst Bus 4 to Xita (Western Pagoda).
2. Take Bus 25, 32 or 33 to Xita Bei, and you will see it.
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