In Tongzhou District, the saying "Tongzhou can be recognized by the tower's shadow" is well known. The "tower" refers to the 1,400-year-old Lighthouse Pagoda (Randeng Ta). Over the past millennium, the pagoda has undergone many changes. During the days of canal transportation, merchants gathered here. After the canal was closed, the area became quiet for a while.

However, the past two years have been very different. Various cultural and tourism activities have been held around the ancient pagoda. During the recent Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the intangible cultural heritage market under the pagoda attracted many tourists. More activities are planned for the second half of the year.

The Lighthouse Pagoda, a landmark familiar to residents in Tongzhou District, is now becoming the most popular and dynamic cultural spot in the city's sub-center, blending ancient and modern elements.

During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, many citizens visited the intangible cultural heritage market under the pagoda. Passing through Dacheng Hall and Shengrong Hall, the red walls and gray tiles separate the hustle and bustle of the city. Walking along the quiet path in front of Zunjing Pavilion and then walking west for ten more steps, visitors will pass through a moon gate and enter a lively area. The square in front of Chongsheng Hall, complemented by green ancient pines, red walls and gray tiles, bustled with visitors. Everyone seemed to be enchanted by the simple and elegant atmosphere, speaking softly.

Treasures can be found everywhere. There are local favorites such as Kong Zhu and Mao Hou, along with horsehair embroidery, handmade brooms, rope knots, and cloisonné. The booth with glittering filigree inlay jewelry was especially popular. The staff of the filigree inlay factory said, "The Beijing filigree inlay factory used to be located in this area under the Lighthouse Pagoda. It has now moved to Zhangjiawan Town. Today is the first time we have returned to the old factory site to do a sales exhibition. It is really nostalgic."

In addition to these local intangible cultural heritage skills, there are also many intangible cultural heritage inheritors from southern cities along the Grand Canal who came here to sell their products. At the lacquerware booth from Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, the staff proudly introduced their work, "This is purely handmade carved lacquerware, with 100 layers of lacquer repeatedly brushed on it, and various kinds of jade inlaid on it."

The lively market is not the only thing going on under the pagoda. Recently, the "Culture and Tourism + Live Broadcast" E-commerce Carnival was held here. Companies that have invested in the sub-center set up live broadcast studios under the pagoda to showcase goods from Tongzhou District to netizens across the country.

For local residents, taking a stroll under the ancient pagoda has long become a way of life. The changes of the pagoda are fascinating to them. Nowadays, the Lighthouse Pagoda and the surrounding ancient buildings have been renovated and upgraded, transforming from a cultural landscape into a tourist attraction. The traces of the past are hard to find, but various cultural activities around it have been rekindled, making the story of the pagoda more widely known.

In Xihaizi Park, located along the Grand Canal, there is an old elm tree, numbered 110112A00001, a first-class ancient tree in Beijing. Although the tree is not very attractive in the appearance, its story is known to many citizens—it was transplanted from the Lighthouse Pagoda and is therefore called the "Pagoda Elm". The elm tree is very resilient, having stood for more than 300 years, showcasing its tenacious vitality.

The relationship between Lighthouse Pagoda and Boya Pagoda, located on the shore of the Weiming Lake in Peking University is also well-known. Boya Pagoda is a water tower on campus, modeled after the Lighthouse Pagoda. The two pagodas, one in the west and one in the east, symbolize the integration of diverse cultures in Beijing.

As a cultural symbol that Tongzhou District has been working hard to build, the once little-known story of the Lighthouse Pagoda is becoming more widely recognized. Today, looking at the ancient pagoda, visitors will be amazed by its ancient charm and the modern city surrounding it.