Lingqing Brick Pagoda

CHINA, Shandong, Liancheng

Its date of construction is unknown but the pagoda was repaired during the rule of Emperor Wanli (reigned 1572–1620) of the Ming dynasty. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The nine-story octagonal pagoda is 61 m high and made of brick and timber. The base platform has a circumference of 39 m and is constructed from slabs of stone. A doorway is located on the south side of the first story. From the second story upwards, there are doors alternating with Buddha niches. There are decorated bracket sets supporting the eaves. Copper bells hang from the corners of the eaves. The pagoda has an octagonal pyramidal roof with distinctive curved hips. There are upturned lotuses at the top but there is no conventional spire.
There is a pillar at the center of the pagoda and a spiral staircase to the top. There are bricks dated between 1608 and 1618 with the names of the brickmakers. The walls are inlaid with steles engraved with the history of the pagoda’s construction, its fundraising information, as well as the names of donors.