Yunlong Temple Pagoda

CHINA, Guangdong, Shaoguan

Yunlong means Cloud and Dragons. There is a stele inscription stating that the pagoda was built from 894 to 901 during the Tang dynasty, and was repaired in the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). According to a Qing dynasty (1644–1911) gazetteer, it was a pagoda commemorating Chan Master Yangshan. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1988.
The five-story, solid, brick pagoda is square in imitation of a timber structure. It is 13.1 m high and each side of the first story measures 2 m. Brick architraves, bracket sets, and pilasters, as well as triangular arched niches can be found on each face of the pagoda. The pagoda has eaves in the form of corbeling made from courses of dogtooth bricks. At the top there is a pyramidal roof with a damaged spire. The features of this pagoda are characteristic of square pagodas from the Tang dynasty (618–907), though its design is rather unique.