Longquan Temple Pagoda

Autumn is the most beautiful season to visit Longquan Pagoda. During this time, the air is crisp and the sky is clear sapphire blue. The seven-storey dense-eaves pagoda exudes a mysterious solemn aura while retaining an approachable earthly charm. It is the treasure guarding the city of Tengzhou.

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Alight at Tengzhou Railway Station. Bus No.6 East Route departs from the station square; get off at Tasi Street Stop, and you will arrive directly. Alternatively, take a taxi to Longquan Pagoda for a fare of 6 RMB. You may visit the Han Stone Relief Gallery on the same trip.

On the eastern outskirts of Tengzhou, standing tall on the west bank of the Jing River, lies an ancient towering pagoda. When the setting sun casts thousands of rays of glow at dusk, the rippling river water, pagoda silhouette and distant mountains set off one another in magnificent splendor. This stunning view was named "Lofty Pagoda Silhouette" (also known as "Jade Pagoda Standing Tall") by ancient people, ranking among the Eight Ancient Sights of Tengzhou. Commonly called Longquan Pagoda, it originally served as the Buddhist pagoda of Longquan Temple.

Longquan Temple boasted magnificent, expansive architecture. Its yellow walls and grey tiles, paired with dark green pines and dark temple buildings, could be seen from afar. Stepping into the temple, visitors would see a stately main hall at the center, flanked by neat side halls. The Buddha statues enshrined inside were vivid and lifelike, while the stele house displayed an array of elegant, ancient stone inscriptions. By the late Qing and early Republic of China, most of the temple’s grand building complex collapsed due to disrepair, leaving only this pagoda standing. The once glorious Longquan Temple has faded into history, yet Longquan Pagoda still stands firm through the passage of time.

Historical records explain the origin of its name: "Powerful spring floods once submerged local dwellings, so a pagoda was erected to suppress the waters; hence the name Longquan (Dragon Spring)." The pagoda’s moniker is likely tied to flood control.

There remains no conclusive evidence confirming the exact construction year of Longquan Pagoda, as many historical documents have been lost over the centuries. A poem titled "Jade Pagoda Standing Tall" is recorded in the Tengzhou County Annals compiled during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty: Long has it stood with Wei Zhao’s inscribed plaque in view, Firmly rooted by Dragon Spring to guard the townsfolk. It absorbs the green grace of clustered peaks, its seven tiers reflect pure radiance alone. It reaches for the clouds with soaring momentum, as if embracing the sun with devotion. Golden wind bells chime gently in the breeze, Washing away the noisy tunes of earthly lutes and zithers from mortal ears.

Based on this poem, historians infer the pagoda was built after the county seat moved east during the Yuanhe reign of the Tang Dynasty, making it over 1,200 years old.

For thousands of years, Longquan Pagoda has endured wind and rain erosion, and even survived a severe earthquake in the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, remaining upright. Its endurance stems from superior original construction quality and consistent restorations throughout history.

In March 1938, during the Battle of Teng County, the prelude to the renowned Battle of Tai'erzhuang, Japanese invaders bombarded Teng County indiscriminately. The ancient pagoda suffered severe wartime damage: its spire collapsed, the eaves and dougong bracket sets fell off, and the tower body was riddled with wounds. The CPC Teng County Committee and Teng County Government allocated special funds for a full-scale renovation.

Renovation officially commenced on July 10, 1984. Workers cleared the collapsed top chamber, rebuilt the walls and arched gate of the ninth tier, and cast the pagoda top with concrete. An eight-petal metal lotus basin base and gourd-shaped spire were installed, alongside lightning protection equipment. Grooves were chiseled above the eaves of each tier to embed reinforced concrete hidden ring beams, faced with blue bricks externally. The Sumeru base below the pagoda midsection was fully reinforced. After more than five months of construction, the project was completed on December 25. The restored Longquan Pagoda stands even more grand and solemn, overlooking the banks of the Jing River with a brand-new appearance