Baitayu Pagoda

CHINA, Liaoning, Huludao

The pagoda was originally located within Zhongtian Temple, which is no longer extant. It was constructed in 1092 during the Liao dynasty. It was listed as a Provincial Cultural Heritage Site in 1979.
The 13-tier octagonal solid brick pagoda is 43 m high. At the top of the base there is an upright lotus which supports the first tier of the pagoda. Brick pilasters with carvings of the names of the Eight Major Pagodas can be found at the corners of the first tier. A niche enshrined with a Buddha is located at each cardinal direction: Aksobhya Buddha is in the east, Amitabha Buddha in the west, Ratnasambhava Buddha in the south, and Amoghasiddhi Buddha in the north. The other sides are decorated with brick plaques with Buddhist verses instead of niches. There are apsaras and canopies above the niches and plaques. Apart from the eaves of the first tier, which are supported by bracket sets, all the other eaves consist of corbeling. The roof is in ruins and the spire is absent, so that it is impossible to determine their original shape.
While repairs were being carried out in 1978, an underground palace was discovered 12 m below ground level. The underground palace was constructed from 17 slabs of sandstone and laid out in an octagonal shape. Upon the stone slabs there were inscriptions of the names of the Eight Great Pagodas and various verses, which are identical to those carved on the pagoda body.