Qingzhou White Pagoda

CHINA, Inner Mongolia, Chifeng

This pagoda stands in the ancient city of Qingzhou. It was built in 1049 during the Liao dynasty by Emperor Xingzong (reigned 1031–1055) in memory of his mother. It was also named the Sakyamuni Buddha Relic Pagoda. It was originally located in a Buddhist temple; however, the temple was destroyed and only the pagoda is left. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1988.
The seven-story, octagonal, brick pagoda is 73.3 m high and is an imitation wood structure. The base has two layers and on top of that there is an octagonal platform. On alternate sides on each story there is a doorway with images of a Heavenly King on either side. The other sides on the first story have imitation vertical bar windows, while the remaining stories have shallow niches with reliefs of small stupas. Between each story, there are eaves supported by bracket sets. All the carvings are precise and delicate. The spire consists of an octagonal brick harmika, an inverted bowl, stacked rings, flame and jewels. The spire’s surface is gilded so that it shines in the sun.
Inside the fifth story of the pagoda there is an inscription that records the name and year of construction of the pagoda. During recent renovation work, important relics from the Liao dynasty, such as small Buddha stupas, canonical texts, and a stone inscribed stele on the construction of the pagoda were found inside the inverted bowl and harmika of the spire.