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The Tang Dynasty Pagoda and Taoist Temple Hidden in Laiyuan County, with Wind Chimes Ringing for a Thousand Years

While wandering through the streets in the center of Laiyuan County, I accidentally stumbled upon a secret place that hides a more than 1,200-year-old Tang Dynasty pagoda and a thousand-year-old Taoist temple. There were no crowds, only the sound of wind chimes gently ringing among the gray bricks and black tiles, a rare and unexpected encounter. Originally, I went to Laiyuan to see the Geyuan Temple. When I left Geyuan Temple, a local guide mentioned that there was a Taoist temple in the east of the city with an "old pagoda" worth visiting. So, I came to Taishan Palace. As soon as the mountain gate of Taishan Palace was pushed open, it felt like traveling back to the flourishing Tang Dynasty. The two-story brick gate hall displayed a majestic plaque reading "Taishan Palace." Inside the bell tower on the west side hung a Liao Dynasty iron bell, the only Liao Dynasty bell in the country with a dated inscription. Striking it seemed to echo a thousand years of history. Passing through the gate, you can see the main hall, Bixia Lin Palace. The statue of Bixia Yuanjun inside is dignified and solemn, flanked by statues of the Child-Giving Goddess and the Eye-Seeing Goddess, exuding a warm, lively atmosphere. It is said that locals love to come here to pray for health and peace. The real surprise is the Xingwen Pagoda in the center of the courtyard. This five-story octagonal brick pagoda, built in the third year of the Tang Tianbao era, stands 27 meters tall and looks especially solemn against the blue sky. The base is intricately carved with upward and downward lotus patterns, a rare pagoda-style structure in Taoist palaces. The most fascinating part is its design code: five stories represent the five elements, and the eight sides symbolize the eight trigrams, embedding the philosophy of harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity into the bricks and tiles. While walking around the pagoda, I noticed the pagoda finial was actually tilted. Local elders said this was a fun story about Lu Ban rushing the construction—he had a bet with his wife to build the pagoda, and when his wife urged him by imitating a rooster’s crow, he hurriedly made the finial crooked. The dragon-head wind chimes on the eaves are full of spirit; when the wind blows, they tinkle, blending naturally with the sound of flowing water from the nearby Juma Spring, creating a natural symphony. The evening light is perfect for photography. The sunset casts long shadows on the mottled brick walls and the pagoda. Shooting panoramic views against the blue sky or close-ups of the wind chimes and lotus carvings, every frame is a masterpiece of ancient charm. After visiting, you can also go to the nearby Juma Springhead Park to see the spring water gushing out, with willows swaying on the banks. It’s hard to imagine such a Jiangnan-like scene hidden deep in the Taihang Mountains. This nationally protected site hidden in the county town has no noisy commercialization, only the tranquility of historical sedimentation. When the wind chimes brush past your ears, you can almost hear the hopes of the Tang Dynasty coin-casting craftsmen who built the pagoda and understand the aspirations passed down through generations of Laiyuan people. 📍Address: Taishan Palace, Laiyuan County, Baoding City (in the county center, direct navigation). I walked here from Geyuan Temple following the navigation. 💡Tips: Taking photos by the pool in front of the Taishan Palace square makes for great shots.
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Posted: Oct 19, 2025
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