Back Up
Back to Main List

Three Pagodas

The Three Pagodas are among the oldest standing structures in south-western China. Clear weather permitting, they look especially pretty when reflected in the nearby Erhai Lake. The tallest of the three, Qianxun Pagoda, has 16 tiers that reach a height of almost 70 meters. The first Pagoda was originally erected in the middle of the 9th century, about the same time as the Large Goose Pagoda and Small Goose Pagoda in Xi'an. On either side, the original pagoda is accompanied by two smaller 10 tiered pagodas, each standing at 42 meters high. There is also a temple behind the pagodas, known as Chongsheng Temple, which is laid out in a traditional Yunnan style--three layers of buildings lined up with a sacred peak in the background.