Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas

CHINA, Yunnan, Dali

They are also known as the Dali Three Pagodas. They are located within the grounds of Chongsheng (Esteemed Sacredness) Temple. The main pagoda is called Qianxun (Thousand Searches) Pagoda and was built in 836 during the Tang dynasty. It is the oldest existing multi-tier brick pagoda in Yunnan. The two smaller pagodas are called the North and South Pagodas and were constructed during the early Dali Kingdom (937–1253). They were listed as National Cultural Heritage Sites in 1961.
The 16-tier Qianxun Pagoda is a hollow, square, brick pagoda measuring 69.1 m. It has two-layer base: the lower layer is constructed from stone and is 1.1 m high; the upper Sumeru layer is 1.9 m high. The pagoda body is covered in white plaster with wooden ladders for access to the roof. The first tier is higher than the rest with an arched doorway located on the west side. The remaining tiers all have arched doorways or niches on opposing sides in an alternating fashion. Beside each niche or doorway there are decorative representations of square pagodas.
The two smaller pagodas face each other and stand on either side of the main pagoda. The ten-tier, octagonal, brick structures are around 42.2 m high. Above the first, second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and ninth tiers there are lotus platforms supporting the level above. The third, fifth, and seventh tiers rest upon bases that are supported by bracket sets and are enclosed by balustrades. There are three bracket sets on each side, with another at each corner. Their bracket arms are linked together, a style rarely seen in Chinese architecture.