Lingyun Pagoda of Shaoyang, Hunan

Lingyun Pagoda is located 1.5 kilometers northeast of downtown Wugang near Yingchun Pavilion on the west bank of the Nanshui River, commonly known as the East Pagoda. It was constructed in the 9th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1830 AD). Standing 36.2 meters tall with seven storeys, it features two staircases (yin and yang paths) inside that lead all the way to the top. The pagoda is magnificent and towering, resembling "a writing brush piercing the azure clouds", hence the name Lingyun Pagoda, meaning "Reaching the Clouds Pagoda".

Two hundred meters west of the original Lingyun Pagoda once stood the well-known Sizhou Pagoda (also called the Flower Pagoda or Leaning Pagoda), built in the 1st year of the Yuanfeng reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (1078 AD). The South Pagoda stood another 3.5 kilometers away. The three pagodas echoed each other from near and far, forming a grand sight that greatly enhanced the charm of the ancient city. Regrettably, both the South Pagoda and Flower Pagoda were demolished in 1970.

Wugang Flower Pagoda rivals the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It rises 30.5 meters with an inclination of 6.22 degrees. Legend holds that the East Pagoda and Flower Pagoda were built by a brother and sister, so they are collectively known as the "Brother and Sister Pagodas". The elder brother built the East Pagoda, and his younger sister built the Flower Pagoda. The two pagodas stand facing each other, competing in beauty with their own distinctive grace. However, the East Pagoda was less colorful and elegant in posture than the Flower Pagoda. Overcome by unexplainable jealousy, the elder brother went to Yuntai Ridge and gave the Flower Pagoda a violent kick. The pagoda has leaned ever since. Unexpectedly, this kick lent the tower an extra graceful, slanting allure.

Sizhou Pagoda, also named Flower Pagoda or Leaning Pagoda, was first erected in 1078, the first year of the Yuanfeng reign of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is a multi-storey pavilion-style brick-and-stone structure with a total height of 30.5 meters and an inclination of 6.22 degrees. Compared with the globally renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa (5.45 degrees of inclination), it was built 98 years earlier and leans an extra 0.77 degrees. In 1969, the pagoda was blown up so its bricks could be reused for provincial air-raid shelter construction, leaving an eternal regret. Its foundation still remains on Yuntai Ridge beside the municipal meteorological bureau.