Stone Pagoda Temple, Buddhist temple complex in Qionglai, China.
Stone Pagoda Temple in Qionglai is a Buddhist temple whose red sandstone pagoda rises 17.8 metres in a square plan. It stands on a double-tiered sumeru base, above which a twelve-column arcade rings the tall first storey; twelve closely spaced eaves rise above it. The temple's main hall was rebuilt in the Ming Zhengtong era.
The temple was built between 1165 and 1173 during the Southern Song dynasty and was originally called the Temple of Great Mercy. Its stone structure combines influences from both the Tang and Song periods, showing how Buddhist building methods evolved over time.
The temple's name changed from Daci Temple to Stone Pagoda Temple because of the pagoda inside it. In 1935 the site housed the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Shitasi District Soviet government; a Long March memorial hall was set up here in 1996, and the temple is protected within it.
The site is accessible to visitors and has been under national protection since 2001, ensuring ongoing maintenance. Expect uneven stone surfaces and plan to explore at a leisurely pace.
The first floor of the pagoda is noticeably taller than the upper levels, creating an unusual visual feature. This proportional pattern repeats throughout the structure, making the building instantly recognizable.
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