Huzhu Pagoda

Huzhu Pagoda is an octagonal brick tower with seven stories standing on Tianmashan Hill in Songjiang. The structure leans noticeably to the east, a tilt that becomes more apparent when viewing it from different angles around its base.

The tower was built in 1079 during the Northern Song Dynasty as a Buddhist monument. A destructive fire in 1788 damaged much of its wooden framework and interior spaces, changing the structure fundamentally.

The structure once housed Buddhist relics within a larger temple complex that served the local community. Its design reflects how people built towers to honor spiritual beliefs and create sacred spaces.

The pagoda sits on a hill that is fairly easy to reach by local transport and accessible on foot once you arrive. There is open space around the tower for viewing it from different angles without obstacles.

The tower tilts at an angle that is more pronounced than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. Its top has shifted more than 2 meters away from true vertical, making it one of the world's most dramatically inclined ancient structures.