Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda [nipic.com] |
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- Location: Dingzhou City, Hebei Province
Situated inside the South Gate of Dingzhou City (originally Dingxian County), Hebei Province, Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda (定县开元寺塔), also known as Liaodi Pagoda, was started in the fourth year of Xianping Period during Emperor Zhenzong's reign in the Northern Song Dynasty (1001) and completed in the second year of Zhihe Period during Emperor Renzhong's reign in the Song Dynasty (1055).
The brick pagoda is a square structure built on a square stone platform. The enormous, 48-meter high first story is topped by thirteen tiers of eaves. Although the pagoda is hollow, it has no staircases inside for people to ascend. Apart from a door on the front of the first story there are no doors or windows, unlike the typical multi-eaved style. At the corners of the stone platforms small stone carvings of heavenly kings and guardians, in Tang Dynasty style, have been well preserved.
Travel Tips:
1. The best time to visit is summer and autumn;
- Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Admission: 70 yuan; (the price will decrease 15 percent in low season);
- How to get there: take bus No.1