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Chengtiansi Pagoda, also known as the Western Pagoda, is located in the Chengtian Temple (Chengtiansi) in Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It was originally built in 1050 in the Western Xia Dynasty (1032-1227) and is the highest brick pagoda among more than one hundred ancient pagodas in Ningxia.

During almost one thousand years, Chengtiansi Pagoda has suffered from many troubles. The Pagoda now standing erect in Yinchuan is not the original one, but was rebuilt in 1820 according to its primary design. It still has distinctive architectural art in the style of Western Xia Dynasty. With a total height of 64.5 meters (some 211 feet), Chengtiansi Pagoda is half a meter (about 1.6 feet) higher than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xian. It is an octagonal structure with 11 wooden floors. The small iron bells hanging on the corners of the Pagoda ring in the soft winds. The sweet bells will inspire your imagination. Through a wooden stairway, people can access to the top of the Pagoda, where looking out of the window, they can perceive a fine view of the ancient city of Yinchuan.

Chengtiansi Pagoda is the only one to record its actual building time in writing. According to the history record, in 1050, Chengtiansi Pagoda was built in order to bless the child King, Li Liangzuo, who was only one year old when he was enthroned after the death of his father Li Yuanhao, the founding King of Western Xia. It took tens of thousands of soldiers about six years to build the Chengtian Temple and the Chengtiansi Pagoda. When completed, the young King and his mother often came here to listen to the sermons of the famous high-level monks.

Chengtiansi Pagoda has been well preserved and become one of key protected cultural relic sites. In addition, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Museum is located in the Temple. It mainly displays rare cultural relics of the Western Xia Dynasty and Ningxia, and has now become one of the most important places to visit for both sightseeing and recreational purposes.

Admission Fee: CNY 22 (A set ticket for Chengtian Temple as well as the Ningxia Museum)


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