The afterglow of the setting sun illuminates the Buddhist pagodas built during the Western Xia Dynasty | The Twin Pagodas of Baisikou

The afterglow of the setting sun illuminates the Buddhist pagodas built during the Western Xia Dynasty | The Twin Pagodas of Baisikou. Helan Mountain has many ravines and passes, among which the most famous are Helankou, where the rock paintings are located, and Gunzhongkou, which is often visited by locals, and of course, Suyukou, chosen by tourists from other places. Baisikou, however, might not be as well-known. Baisikou used to be called 'Baisikou', named for the more than a hundred temples in the ravine. But not many remain today, and over 30 years ago, a square pagoda was blown up by criminals. From the ruins, a wooden movable-type printed edition of 'Auspicious Omnipresence Sutra Continuation' was found, which is the earliest known physical example of wooden movable-type printing in the world. It powerfully refutes the wild fantasies of some. Of course, this artifact is not in the Ningxia Museum, but in Beijing. - Baisikou has two pagodas, less than a hundred meters apart, with roughly the same design, one slightly plump and the other slender. They are generally called 'The Twin Pagodas of Baisikou', but they also have many other names, such as the Facing Pagodas, the Couple Pagodas, the Mountain God Pagodas, the Sea God Pagodas, and the Flying Pagodas. - With Helan Mountain as the backdrop, the twin pagodas are still the most worthwhile scenery along the route. Especially since on this visit, we encountered the only half-hour sunset window in an overcast day. It was a highlight of our trip. - 🌟Highlights: ❶ The relief sculptures on the Western Pagoda are more interesting than those on the Eastern Pagoda. You can clearly see the sculptures in the shallow niches on each level, as well as the beast face with tassels in its mouth. Of course, there are also glazed beast heads. ❷ The pagoda forest ruins below the Western Pagoda, somewhat similar to the 108 Pagodas in Qingtongxia City, are arranged in rows along the hillside, but now only a few traces of the bases remain. ❸ Behind the twin pagodas on a small hill, there is a natural Buddha statue, which you can spot at a glance without special pointing out, because it really resembles one. Looking towards Helan Mountain, the peaks also form a reclining Buddha, which requires a bit of imagination. - 📙Background Knowledge: ❶ Built during the Western Xia Dynasty (no specific dates recorded), it has also survived an 8-magnitude earthquake in the Ningxia region without collapsing. As part of the imperial palace complex of the Western Xia Emperor Li Yuanhao, it also included Buddhist temples and a pagoda forest. However, it was repaired multiple times during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and the pagoda's appearance is no longer the same as it was in the Western Xia period. ❷ There are no records of the exact construction dates of the two pagodas, but they can be determined to be from the Western Xia period based on the surrounding ruins and artifacts unearthed within the pagodas. These two pagodas have undergone several major renovations during the Yuan and Ming dynasties. - 🅿️Navigation and Parking: Parking costs 5 yuan, no overnight stays allowed. - 📷Photography Spots: ❶ Gunsu Road. You can see the twin pagodas from afar. Backed by high mountains, they look like two guardian spirits' swords thrust into the ground. ❷ The small hill behind the twin pagodas. ❸ Outside the western wall of the twin pagodas, you can capture the different sizes of the two pagodas. _______ 📍Location | Ningxia Yinchuan Helan County Baisikou Twin Pagodas 🎫Ticket | Free