[2025 Zhengding Attraction] Travel Guide for Hua Pagoda of Guanghui Temple (Updated Mar)

Zhengding, a living ancient city, is a must-see for ancient architecture lovers. Zhengding is home to so many ancient buildings that you won't be able to see them all. It's a must-see for ancient architecture lovers! It's also very easy to get to. The high-speed rail network in Shijiazhuang is well-developed, and it's only about 2.5 hours' drive from Beijing, Tianjin, or Taiyuan. I first visited this ancient city ten years ago. I only had time to see the Great Buddha Temple, but the four ancient pagodas left a lasting impression on me. Now, these four pagodas are like copper nails, firmly nailing the wind and Zen of the Tang and Song dynasties to the land of Yanzhao. Here are some of the attractions in Zhengding: - South Gate of Zhengding City Wall: You can see the whole ancient city from here, and it's free to climb. At night, the lights come on, and the ancient city takes on a different charm. - Huata Pagoda of Guanghui Temple: Originally built in the Tang dynasty, the pagoda was destroyed and rebuilt in the Jin dynasty. The pagoda has a unique shape, and even Liang Sicheng praised it as a "unique example in China." It's definitely worth a visit. - Chengling Pagoda of Linji Temple: This is a Jin dynasty building, a nine-story brick pagoda with a particularly elegant appearance. - Lingxiao Pagoda of Tianning Temple: A Song dynasty building with nine levels. The first three levels imitate brick and wood structures, while the upper levels are all made of wood. At first, people thought it was the tallest of the four pagodas, but it was later discovered to be 1.5 meters shorter than the Xumi Pagoda. - Xumi Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple: Rebuilt in the Qing dynasty, it still retains its original Tang dynasty style. From the street, it looks very similar to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an. Try this city walk route: Longxing Temple - Lingxiao Pagoda of Tianning Temple - Fengdong Stele of Confucian Temple - County Confucian Temple - Xumi Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple - Chengling Pagoda of Linji Temple - Huata Pagoda of Guanghui Temple - South Gate of Ancient City Wall. The whole route is about 3.5 km long. It's best to set aside a day to explore slowly and appreciate all the attractions. In addition to ancient architecture, you can't miss the food in Zhengding. You must try the Ganglu Shaobing. Freshly baked, the crust is crispy and full of wheat flavor. There's also Benggan, which has a chewy texture and a rich flavor. It's a local specialty and a great snack to go with drinks. Here are some tips for visiting Zhengding: If you're an ancient architecture lover, it's recommended to buy a combo ticket to save money. The ancient city is also beautiful at night, so it's best to stay overnight to enjoy both the daytime and nighttime views. Double the fun!

The 'Flower Tower' at Zhengding Guanghui Temple is a rare sight not only in the Hebei region but also across the country's temples. It's quite surprising that the designer was able to incorporate such innovative design inspiration as early as in the Tang Zhenyuan era. The structure is adorned with powerful figures, sea creatures, lions, elephants, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas, all vividly depicted and orderly arranged, resembling a colorful miniature palace of sculpture art.

The Lingxiao Pagoda of Tianning Temple is made entirely of brick and wood. Under the towering pagoda there is a pair of stone lions that are estimated to be from the Jin and Yuan dynasties. The stone lions are unusual in that they have big, cute heads and slender bodies. It is said that lions during this period were treated as pets rather than just guardian beasts (Figures 1-2). The Sumeru Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple is a brick and stone structure, and looks very similar to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. The temple houses the only existing bell tower from the Tang Dynasty, and also houses a rare giant Bixi stele base from the Five Dynasties period (Figures 3-4). The Chengling Pagoda of Linji Temple is covered with green glazed tiles, which Liang Sicheng described as "fresh and beautiful" (Figures 5-6). The Guanghui Temple Hua Pagoda (Figures 7-8), commonly known as the "Flower Pagoda", has an eye-catching huge colored wall sculpture on the top, and a circle of exquisite reliefs, magnificent and like a blooming flower. Mr. Liang Sicheng gave it a very high evaluation: "From the perspective of shape, this Hua Pagoda may be a unique example in the country. ’

After all, although the four pagodas of Zhengding each have their own merits, if you were to ask which one is particularly memorable and eye-catching, it would definitely be the Hua Pagoda of Guanghui Temple. Even Liang Sicheng himself noted in 'A Record of the Survey of Ancient Buildings in Zhengding' that 'from the perspective of its design, this Hua Pagoda may well be a unique example within China. Both its plan and exterior are equally peculiar.' During this City Walk in Zhengding, by the time we reached Guanghui Temple, dusk had already fallen. Through the red walls outside the temple, one could only see the top of the ancient pagoda bathed in the twilight of the setting sun, true to its name. The Hua Pagoda, also known as the Flower Pagoda, blooms like a bouquet, radiating a magnificent form and golden light. The Flower Pagoda is one of the classic designs of Buddhist pagodas in our country, first appearing in the Tang Dynasty and becoming popular during the Song, Liao, and Jin periods. Today, the remaining Flower Pagodas are mostly located in the northern regions of China, and they are quite rare. The Hua Pagoda of Guanghui Temple in Zhengding, with its lavish and richly decorated facade, is recognized as a typical representative of similar structures in China. Upon entering Guanghui Temple, the entire Hua Pagoda is fully revealed. It turns out that the Flower Pagoda seen from outside the wall is just the very top layer of the pagoda. In fact, the whole Hua Pagoda has four levels, an octagonal brick-carved pagoda imitating a wooden pavilion style, consisting of the main pagoda and attached smaller pagodas. The whole is constructed with blue-gray grooved bricks and yellow earth, giving it a slightly odd appearance, somewhat reminiscent of the Vajra Throne Pagoda we saw before. From historical inscriptions, we know that the Hua Pagoda of Guanghui Temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era, with the existing main pagoda body rebuilt during the Jin Dynasty's Dading period (1161-1189). However, some scholars believe that the first and second levels of the pagoda are remnants of the Song Dynasty. The first level of the Hua Pagoda's main body is octagonal, with doors on the four main sides and a brick-built flat base on the eaves. At each corner, there is a hexagonal pavilion-like single-layered small pagoda that encircles the first and second levels of the main pagoda, creating a staggered height and a sense of primary and secondary dependency. The second level has a door on the front side, with Buddha niches on the other sides. The third level sits on a wide base, and because there are no surrounding galleries, it suddenly narrows. The fourth level of the Hua Pagoda is where the essence of the pagoda lies, and it is also the first glimpse of the pagoda seen from outside the wall. The body of the pagoda is conical, with relief sculptures all around. The layout follows an octagonal pattern with figures such as warriors, sea creatures, lions, elephants, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas vividly sculpted and orderly arranged, resembling a colorful miniature sculpture art palace. Above this is the top level of the pagoda, with a high-rising octagonal blue tile roof, crowned with an upturned lotus and a jewel at the very top. As one of the main structures of Guanghui Temple, there should have originally been a Hall of Heavenly Kings and a front hall in front of the Hua Pagoda, and a rear hall behind it, but now the other buildings of the temple have been destroyed, leaving only the Hua Pagoda standing alone. It is said that there is a pagoda heart chamber on the third level, with two stone-carved Shakyamuni Buddha statues in front of the north wall, and an inscription on the Buddha base indicating that the statues were made for Emperor Taizong's birthday in the second year of the Zhenguan era. Unfortunately, the pagoda heart is no longer open to the public. Of course, if you're just here for photography, you don't actually need to buy a ticket to enter; the area outside the red wall is the standard spot for checking in, constantly occupied by various internet celebrities. Climbing up the Zhengding South City Wall also allows for a complete view of the Hua Pagoda, especially when it's lit up at night, it's even more beautiful. 🏠Name | Guanghui Temple Hua Pagoda 🎫Ticket | 15 yuan ⛳Address | No.1 Guanghui Road, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City 🚗Transportation | Navigate to 'Guanghui Temple Hua Pagoda'