Miaoying Temple White Stupa

CHINA, Beijing

In 1271 Kublai Khan (reigned 1260–1294) of the Yuan dynasty destroyed the original stupa at this location and invited Nepalese architect Araniko to construct a replacement. Following the completion of the structure, Kublai Khan ordered that a temple be built with the stupa as its center. In 1368 a fire completely destroyed the temple, leaving only the stupa. In 1457 a new temple was built and named Miaoying Temple. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1961.
The 50.9 m high Tibetan stupa is solid inside and constructed in brick. The Sumeru base has two levels with multiple corners. There are flights of stairs on either side. Above the Sumeru base are large upturned lotuses surrounding the base of the stupa body.
The stupa body is in the shape of an inverted bowl. The base of the spire is square with multiple corners followed by 13 stacked rings, above which there is a large openwork canopy measuring 9.7 m in diameter. The edges of the canopy are hung with bells. The finial consists of a small copper Tibetan stupa, on which there is a Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) inscription.