Study Chinese

Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

Library>Travel in China>Protected Sites>Class Ⅲ>Contructions

Manfeilong Pagoda

The Manfeilong Pagoda stands on a hilltop at the back of North Manfeilong Village in Jinghong County, the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province.

The Manfeilong Pagoda was built between 1636 and 1695 in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is a famous piece of Hinayana architecture in Xishuangbanna. Built on a brick and stone structure, the group of constructions comprise nine pagodas of varying sizes. All of them have a white body and a golden
spire, like a jade bamboo shoot breaking through soil. The pagodas are, therefore, also reputed as the Bamboo Shoot Pagodas. The pagoda is built on a one-meter-high, octagonal Sumeru base with a perimeter of 42.6 meters. A niche is carved in each of its eight angles, with a Buddha statue inside. A
main pagoda at 16.29 meters in height is located in the center with eight smaller pagodas at 9.1 meters surrounding it to form an octagon. All nine pagodas, round and solid, are shaped like calabashes. The pagodas, which are painted white, are decorated with various exquisite patterns and color
drawings. A trumpet-shaped cone spire covered with gold leaves sits on the lotus-flower seat on top. Such unique representative works of stone pagodas are rarely seen in China.

It is said that the Manfeilong Pagoda was one of the first three pagodas in Xishuangbanna after Buddhism spread to the area. Among the three pagodas, it is the only one consisting of a group of pagodas. According to legend, one of the stones paved on the ground with a human footprint belongs to
Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism.

Email to Friends
Print
Save

Learn Chinese online, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet

Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

Library>Travel in China>Protected Sites>Class Ⅲ>Contructions

Twin Towers of Guangjiao Temple

The Twin Towers of the Guangjiao Temple are located at the south foot of Jingting Mountain, five kilometers north of Xuanzhou City in Anhui Province.

The Guangjiao Temple, commonly referred to as the Twin-Tower Temple, was originally built behind the Twin Towers; but now it no longer exists. Historical records indicate that the Twin Towers were built in 1096 during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Both square towers have seven stories and are 20 meters high. The east tower is 2.65 meters long on each side, while the west one measures 2.35 meters. The two brick towers have doors on three sides on the ground floor and on four sides on the floors above. Many of the original Buddha statues
carved on the towers were severely damaged and only four pairs of well-preserved statues remain on the fifth floor of the east tower. The towers are divided into three sections by columns; the middle parts are carved into round, arched doors. The towers, which are small on the inside, have floors
linked by wooden stairs. The second floors of both towers have stone tablets embedded in the walls with inscriptions written by Su Wu, a famous scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The tablets indicate that the towers were erected approximately in 1096.

The construction of the Twin Towers retains the style of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), which is a rarity among other ancient towers. The two towers have managed to maintain their original appearance in the Song Dynasty, except some minor damages throughout the years.

Email to Friends
Print
Save

Learn Chinese, Learn mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing,

Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

Library>Travel in China>Protected Sites>Class Ⅲ>Contructions

Iron Tower at Chongjue Temple

The Chongjue Temple Iron Tower is located at Chongjue Temple in Jining City, Shandong Province.

The temple was built in 560 and the Iron Tower was built in 1105 during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Hence, the temple is also known as the Iron Tower Temple. Originally a pavilion-style octagonal tower of seven stories, the tower was rebuilt into a nine-story tower in 1581 at a height of 23.8
meters. Its brick base is octagonal in shape and a door is open at the tower’s south side. Inside is a stone-carved, thousand-hand Buddha of the Song Dynasty with inscriptions from 1881 of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Each layer has eaves and railings, and the gold-plating on the top is shaped
like a vase. A door is open on the four sides of each floor and the other four sides contain niches with statues of Buddha inside. The entire iron tower was cast in a mold imitating the wooden structural style that reflects the high casting technique of the Song Dynasty.

Email to Friends
Print
Save

Learn Chinese, Chinese Mandarin, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet