Travel, Study, and Fun in China - The Yuquan Iron Pagoda

The Yuquan Iron Pagoda, also called Buddhist Tooth and Relics Pagoda, lies on the hillock in front of the Yuquan Temple. According to the record of the inscription on the pagoda body, the pagoda was originally named Buddhist Tooth and Relics Pagoda and was cast on August 15 in the sixth year (1061) of the Jiayou reign of the Song Dynasty. The body and the base of the pagoda are 22 meters in total height. The base of the pagoda is built of special black bricks and the body is built of pig iron; they follow a wood-like pavilion style, with an octagonal plane. The pagoda has thirteen storeys and cost over 38,300 kilograms of iron. Each floor and side of the pagoda is cast with patterns like two dragons playing with a bead, Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, mountains, wave of the sea, float grass, etc. The vivid patterns are cast with soft and fluent lines. The dado has eight corners with each corner cast with a pagoda-holding Hercules. The four sides of the second floor are cast with the name and weight of the pagoda, names of the artisans, time of casting and other.
There are many famous flowers and ancient trees in the temple, such as gingkgo of the Tang Dynasty (618-960), cherry bay and twin lotus flowers on one stalk, etc. The plants have exuberant branches and leaves, making the temple more beautiful. The Yuquan iron Tower is a rare ancient large iron tower in China, tall and straight, steady and exquisite. When sun sets down, purple and golden clouds set off the pagoda to advantage.