Nong’an Pagoda

CHINA, Jilin, Changchun

The pagoda was built between 1023 and 1030 during the Liao dynasty. By 1949 the pagoda had almost collapsed due to wind and rain erosion; however, repairs were carried out in 1953. The base platform was restored to its original condition in 1983 after major renovation. It is now a National Cultural Heritage Site.
The solid brick pagoda is octagonal and built in a dense-eave style. It consists of thirteen tiers and it is 44 m high. The plain platform base is high. The first tier is much higher than the others and real doors alternate with fake ones. There are rounded pilasters at the corners with imitation two-tier bracket sets supporting the eaves above. The subsequent tiers decrease in size. Bells hang from the corner of each eave. The pagoda is surmounted by an octagonal pyramidal roof. Along the hips, there are roof decorations in the shape of lions, dragons and horses, all with their heads raised to the sky. The base of the spire consists of three upright lotuses followed by a vase, a wheel, a horizontal crescent moon, jewels, canopy and finial.
When the renovations were being carried out in 1953, a brick chamber was found on the tenth level. Artifacts dating back to the Liao dynasty (907–1125), such as a relic box and a censer, were discovered inside.