Haibao Pagoda
Haibao Pagoda is an ancient building noted for its rare seen architecture. Read on WindhorseTour travel tips for all the popular attractions within China. Including their location, key attractions, ticket price, and beyond.
Also known as north pagoda, it is located 1,500 m. (4,921 ft.) north of Yinchuan City in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The rectangular tower is 54 m. (177 ft.) high and takes a unique shape of the Chinese character "亚 (yà in mandarin)" which is rarely seen elsewhere in China.
It was included in the first group of key national cultural site and was one of the sixteen famous pagodas in China.
It's not known when it was founded; but historical record has it that it was rebuilt during the reign of Xialianbobo, the king of Xia Dynasty during 407 - 427.
Hence, the tower is also referred to as Hebao Pagoda. Over the centuries, Haibao Pagoda has survived several earthquakes and has been rebuilt and repaired many times after the founding of new China making it the symbol of Yinchuan city today.
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Haibao Pagoda is built up by black bricks with nine tiers and eleven flights of stairs. It has a square base, 5.7 m. (18.7 ft.) high and 19.7 m. (64.8 ft.) long.
You enter the pagoda by walking through an arched door and a portico on the first floor. When you reach the second floor, you'll see four arched doors protruding ten centimeters to the outside.
There are also recesses built in the wall to add to its architectural complexity and give visitors a three dimensional feeling.
The pleasant sound produced by the chimes hanging on all the corners of the pagoda makes another attractive scene while climbing up to its top by the wooden stairs.
Every year on the 15th of the seven lunar month, the Buddhist festival of Obon is held in the nearby Haibao Pagoda temple and many Buddhist believers will gather there to participate in a variety of Buddhist activities.
The smoke of the incense together with the melodious ringing of the bells and the sutras-chanting of the Buddhists add to the atmosphere of the Ghost Festival and the mysteriousness of Buddhist culture.
Final travel tips for you: the ticket price is 10 RMB (1.65 USD) including the charge for climbing the pagoda. It opens from 8:00-17:00.