Within the city of Beijing, there stand numerous white pagodas, pure in color and graceful in form. Each of these pagodas carries a rich history and represents iconic cultural heritage in the history of Beijing as the national capital. Appreciating the white pagodas allows us to immerse ourselves in the profound ancient charm. In this edition, let us take a detailed journey to discover the captivating beauty of Beijing’s white pagodas.

White Pagoda of Beihai Park

The white pagoda of Beihai, located on Jade Flower Island (Qionghua Island) of Beihai Park in Beijing, was built in the eighth year of the Shunzhi reign during the early Qing Dynasty (1651). It is a Tibetan-style lama pagoda.

The entire body of the pagoda is made of white stone. It stands at a height of 35.9 meters and has a unique shape resembling a treasure bottle, with a rounded upper section and a square lower section. The base of the pagoda is a square-shaped sumeru platform with stepped corners, adorned with two layers of copper umbrella-shaped roofs. The pagoda’s pinnacle is adorned with precious ornaments, including a finial and a decorative canopy, featuring intricate patterns of sun, moon, and flames. The lower half of the pagoda is covered with a layer resembling an ancient bronze bell, and it is adorned with fourteen small copper bells that chime in the wind. At the very top, there is a golden spire with a gilded jewel-studded spire. Inside the pagoda, there are stored lama scriptures, ceremonial garment, and two sacred relics.

The majestic pagoda stands tall on the peak of Jade Flower Island, surrounded by lush greenery. It commands attention with its grandeur and exudes an imperial presence, representing a prominent architectural landmark in the royal garden of Beihai.

The White Pagoda, together with the Shanmen (mountain gate), Stone Archway, Zhizhu Hall, and Jianchun Pavilion, integrates harmoniously, creating the famous “Qiongdao Chunyin,” one of the Eight Great Sights of Yanjing (Beijing). The “Qiongdao Chunyin” stele, erected during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, is located on the eastern slope of Jade Flower Island.

Address: No.1 Wenjin Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

White Pagoda of Miaoying Temple

The White Pagoda of Miaoying Temple is one of the oldest and largest lama pagodas in Beijing, and it is also one of the largest of its kind in Chinese history.

After Emperor Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty conquered the Jin Dynasty and established Beijing as the capital, he ordered the construction of a grand Buddhist pagoda that symbolized the imperial city. A Nepalese architect named Anigo, who was skilled in this architectural style, was appointed to design and oversee the construction. Eight years later, the White Pagoda was completed.

The White Pagoda has a total height of nearly 51 meters and consists of six parts: the base, the pedestal, the body in the shape of an inverted bowl, the sorin, the baldachin, and the spire. It is a typical example of a lama pagoda. The entire pagoda has a solid and majestic appearance, with a pure white color that enhances its sense of solemnity and sanctity. It exudes a rich aura of ancient Indian-style Buddhist pagodas.

The White Pagoda is not only an important historical relic but also a symbol of friendship between China and Nepal.

Address：171 Fuchengmennei Street, Xicheng District, Beijing.

White Pagoda of Tanzhe Temple

The White Pagoda of Tanzhe Temple, also known as the “Jingang Yanshou” (Vajra Prolonging Life) Pagoda, is located in the fourth courtyard of Tanzhe Temple, on the eastern side between the Yuantong Hall and Dizang Hall. It is a white brick and stone pagoda in the style of lama Pagoda. The pagoda was built under the support of Zhu Zhanyong, the King of Yuejing during the Ming Dynasty, in the second year of the Zhengtong era (1437). It was completed in September of the following year. The purpose of constructing the pagoda was likely to pray for the well-being and longevity of Zhu Zhanyong’s mother, or to store her personal belongings, birth information, and Buddhist scriptures for future generations to admire.

The Jingang Yanshou Pagoda is approximately 16.8 meters high and consists of a base, a sumeru platform, a body shaped like an inverted bowl, a sorin, and a spire. On either side of the pagoda are temple walls, and in front of the pagoda, there are two ancient pine trees. The straight trunks and cloud-shaped crowns of the pine trees create a picturesque view of the Tanzhe Temple with one pagoda and two trees. It is also known as the “Dancing Phoenixes Pagoda.” The entire white pagoda is enveloped by the branches of the pine trees, symbolizing the aspiration for longevity through paying respects to the pagoda.

Address: at the foot of Mount Tanzhe, Tanzhe Town, Mentougou District, Beijing

White Pagoda of Xihuang Temple

The White Pagoda of Xihuang Temple, also known as the “Qingjing Huacheng Pagoda,” is the stupa that commemorates the sixth Panchen Lama’s parinirvana in Xihuang Temple. It was completed in the 47th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1782) and is commonly referred to as the “Panchen Lama Pagoda.”

The architectural style of the pagoda imitates the Pagoda of Bodh Gaya in India and takes the shape of the Chinese letter “Ya.” On top of the three-meter-high white jade Vajra base, there are five pagodas. The main pagoda is a Tibetan-style lama pagoda, standing at 23.28 meters in the center. Surrounding it are four Octagonal Pagoda with Ornamental Pillars, each nine meters tall, protruding outward.

There are Shihou (stone mythical beasts) on the left and right of the pagoda, as well as gateways in the front and back, accompanied by stone pavilions on the east and west sides, forming a symmetrical and solemn architectural complex. The gateways are built in a house-like architectural form, with Qianlong’s inscribed couplets on the inner and outer sides. Overall, the Qingjing Huacheng Pagoda incorporates architectural elements from Han, Tibetan, and Indian styles, blending their distinct features harmoniously.

Around the Qingjing Huacheng Pagoda, other corners of Xihuang Temple also offer a serene retreat. The temple is adorned with cypress, pagoda tree, and purple bamboo. When the wind blows, the rustling of bamboo leaves creates a tranquil and beautiful scene. There are stone tables and benches under the trees, providing a place for rest.

Address: No.11 Dewai Huangsi Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing.

White Pagoda of Dajue Temple

The White Pagoda of Dajue Temple stands at the highest point along the central axis of the temple. It is a Buddhist pagoda in the shape of an inverted bowl. The pagoda is made of brick and stone and is divided into four parts: the underground palace, the base, the body, and the spire. It has a height of approximately 15 meters and features an octagonal sumeru base, a circular body, a slender sorin, and a decorative pinnacle on top.

The base of the pagoda is 50 centimeters high and has a square shape. The octagonal platform is oriented towards the east, with carved lotus flowers on the upper and lower beams, and the surrounding area is adorned with patterned brick carvings of auspicious dragons, sunflowers, peonies, lotus flowers, and passionflowers.

The body of the pagoda is in the shape of an inverted bowl, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with a flame-like entrance gate on the front. The sorin on top consists of thirteen layers. Above the sorin is a decorative canopy with eight hanging wind chimes. The entire white pagoda has a graceful and symmetrical design.

Surrounded by pine and cypress trees, there is a pine tree to the south and a cypress tree to the north. The branches of the pine and cypress trees grow towards the white pagoda, as if embracing it. This scene is known as “Pine and Cypress Embracing the Pagoda,” which is one of the “Eight Wonders of Dajue Temple.”

Address: No.9 Dajue Temple Road, Sujiatuo Town, Haidian District, Beijing.

White Pagoda of Miaofeng Mountain

The White Pagoda of Miaofeng Mountain was originally built during the era of the Republic of China and is constructed with pure white marble, standing tall and majestic at the summit of the mountain. The pagoda is meticulously built with fine materials, exquisite architecture, and a dignified and striking appearance, making it the iconic structure of the Miaofeng Mountain Temple.

The White Pagoda is 6.9 meters high and has the shape of an inverted bowl-style lama pagoda. The base is a square-shaped sumeru platform, each side measuring approximately 4.2 meters wide and 2 meters high. It is adorned with relief carvings of treasure pots and auspicious cloud patterns, and there are 16 statues of Vajra Defenders and immortals carved around the waist of the platform. The upper and lower eaves of the pedestal are adorned with lotus petal reliefs. Above the pedestal are five layers of stone steps that gradually taper, with the topmost layer forming an upturned lotus shape.

The body of the pagoda is in the form of a hemispherical covered bowl, with a flame-like gate on each of the four sides, featuring carvings of cloud patterns, swirling vines, decorative bands, and flowers.

The spire is slender and shaped like a bottleneck, with thirteen concentric rings symbolizing the “thirteen heavens.” At the top is a copper canopy adorned with tassels, decorative curtains, and small bells. The pinnacle of spire consists of three layers of copper beads, commonly known as the “three-bellied gourd-shaped pinnacle.”

The pagoda is located in a courtyard built on the pinnacle of a cliff, at an elevation of 1012 meters, overlooking a vast gorge with a breathtaking panoramic view.

Address: Jiangou Village, Miaofengshan Town, Mentougou District, Beijing City.