Pagoda of Bailin Temple, Buddhist pagoda in Zhao County, China.
The Pagoda of Bailin Temple is a seven-story octagonal brick tower in Zhao County, rising from an elaborately carved stone Sumeru pedestal. The tower is fitted with layered overhanging roofs and decorated brackets along each story, typical of northern Chinese brick pagoda construction.
The site where the pagoda stands was home to the Guan Yin Monastery, said to have been founded in the 2nd century. The current tower was built in 1330 under Emperor Wenzong of the Yuan Dynasty, replacing earlier structures on the same grounds.
The pagoda stands within the Bailin Temple grounds, which today function as an active Chan Buddhist monastery with resident monks. Visitors can walk through a space where religious practice and old architecture coexist in everyday use.
The pagoda is located on Shita East Road and is open to visitors during the day at no charge. The grounds are easy to explore on foot, and the best view of the tower is from the inner courtyard of the temple complex.
Although the pagoda appears as a hollow tower from outside, its interior is solid and cannot be entered, which sets it apart from many other Chinese tower structures. All the decorative details, including the stone carvings on the pedestal, are therefore meant to be seen and appreciated from ground level.
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