A few years ago, there was a particularly popular TV series called Empresses in the Palace, which many people may have watched. The main character, Zhen Huan, is the biological mother of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, and her "love of fighting" personality, involved in power struggles, political intrigue, and other details, made the series very engaging and left a deep impression on viewers. In reality, however, Zhen Huan, born as the noblewoman Niu Hulu, was a compassionate person who greatly valued family and social harmony. After being named Empress Dowager Chongqing, despite enjoying great status and wealth, she remained humble and frugal. She often advised Emperor Qianlong to reduce military expenditures, streamline government, and reduce punishments to prevent harm to innocent people, reflecting her care and compassion for the people. Her relationship with her son, Emperor Qianlong, was exemplary. Zhen Huan celebrated her 60th and 70th birthdays at Wutasi, and the imperial court paintings by Qing dynasty artists, such as Zhang Tingyan's Chongqing Empress Dowager’s Birthday Painting and Lu Huan Hui Jing Picture Album, contain detailed records of this.

Wutasi, originally named Zhenjue Temple, was built during the Ming Yongle period (1403–1424). In the 16th year of Emperor Qianlong's reign (1751), Emperor Qianlong ordered the restoration of Wutasi to celebrate the birthday of his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing.

Wutasi is famous for its Vajra Throne Pagoda, one of the earliest of its kind in China. The origin of Wutasi is not clearly recorded in historical texts, but the common explanation is that in the second year of the Yongle reign (1404), an Indian monk named Shèlìshā (also called Shìlìshā, a Sanskrit transliteration) came to the court and presented five golden Buddhas and a blueprint for the Bodh Gaya stupa to Emperor Yongle. The emperor immediately commissioned the construction of Zhenjue Temple and ordered the building of a pagoda for the golden Buddhas. It is evident that this monk had done his homework and understood Emperor Yongle’s thoughts before coming. Currently, the remaining Vajra Throne Pagodas in China include those at the Biyun Temple on Xiangshan Mountain in Beijing, the Xihuang Temple in Chaoyang, Beijing, Guanghui Temple in Zhengding, Hebei, Miaokan Temple in Kunming, Yunnan, and Cideng Temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.

Wutasi has a unique architectural style. Its Vajra Throne Pagoda is a form of Buddhist Tantric architecture. The entire pagoda is made of Han white jade, with the body of the pagoda covered in niches and reliefs. The interior consists of a circular corridor and a pagoda room. The Vajra Throne Pagoda is divided into three main parts: the five small pagodas at the top, the central pagoda body, and the Vajra Throne (Meru Throne) at the base. The five small pagodas at the top are adorned with carvings on both the base and the body, with lotus petals, dharma wheels, umbrellas, and treasure beads forming the pagoda finials. Each small pagoda is 7 meters tall and has 11 layers. The body of the pagoda has niches carved into each layer, each containing a Buddha statue, with additional carvings of Bodhisattvas, Bodhi trees, and more. The central pagoda is 8 meters tall, with 13 layers, and on the south side of the Meru Throne, there is a finely carved Buddha footprint and the Buddha’s eight treasures. The pagoda is beautifully detailed and showcases the craftsmanship of the time.The main feature of the pagoda is its dedication to the "Five Buddha Directions". The central pagoda and the four small pagodas built at the positions of the northeast (☱), southeast (☳), southwest (☶), and northwest (☴) represent the five "Dhyani Buddhas" or the "Five Wisdom Buddhas", namely, the central Buddha, Vairocana, as well as the Buddhas of the four directions: Akṣobhya (east), Ratnasambhava (south), Amitābha (west), and Amoghasiddhi (north).

The middle part of the Vajra Throne Pagoda consists of five layers and is 7.7 meters high. Each layer is adorned with rows of Buddha niches, each containing a seated Buddha statue. The pagoda body is covered with elaborate inscriptions in Sanskrit and Tibetan, along with various motifs, including lions, elephants, horses, peacocks, dragons, tigers, as well as the eight treasures, Vajra scepters, and Bodhi trees. The base, known as the Vajra Throne (Meru Throne), is carved to represent Mount Meru, considered the center of the universe in ancient India, symbolizing the Buddha sitting atop a holy mountain, signifying the reverence and worship of the Buddha by all beings. The base, body, and five small pagodas are all intricately decorated with various patterns, making them vivid and lifelike, with superb craftsmanship. The pagoda is a representative example of Ming dynasty architecture and stone carving art and serves as a prime example of the fusion of Chinese and foreign cultures.

In front of Wutasi, there are two ancient ginkgo trees that are over 600 years old. The trees are tall and majestic, with lush branches and leaves that form a canopy like clouds. The ancient ginkgo trees obscure the old pagoda, adding a tranquil and harmonious atmosphere to Wutasi. Located on the north bank of the Changhe River, just north of the Beijing Zoo, in the courtyard of the Beijing Stone Carving Museum, Wutasi is not only an important cultural heritage site in China but also a popular tourist destination.