Yingxian Wooden Pagoda - Highest and Oldest Existing Wooden Pagoda in China

Seen from the outside, the pagoda appears to be five storeys, however, it has nine storeys (with four blindstories inside the pagoda). On each storey, there are two circles of wooden pillars to support the upper storey: 24 wooden pillars at the outside circle and 8 wooden pillars at the inside circle. Among the pillars, there are also many diagonal bracings and short columns to enhance the stability and shock resistance of the pagoda.

A lot of Dougongs (a system of brackets in Chinese building, wooden square blocks inserted between the top of a column and a crossbeam) are used in the building to connect various pillars and crossbeams. The most magical part of the pagoda is that no iron nail is used here at all, and the connection works are completed through Chinese mortise and tenon joint structure. The Chinese mortise and tenon joint structure can bear large load and it allows certain deformation, thus, it can reduce the influence of earthquake, and this structure is the main reason why the pagoda has survived numerous earthquakes through nearly a thousand year.

Pay Homage to Various Buddha Statues

There are two doors in the south and north direction of the first storey, and from the second to fifth storey (the visible storeys), there are four doors in each of them. Wooden staircases connect every two storeys. The first storey holds an 11 meters high Sakyamuni statue, sitting under a delicate caisson ceiling. From second storey to fifth storey, there are also various Buddha statues and Bodhisattva statues.

Note: Yingxian wooden pagoda is under maintenance and visitors can not climb up the pagoda. However, the Buddha statues can be seen on the first floor and several small temples around the pagoda.

√ 2 Days Datong Yungang Grottoes Tour with Yingxian Wooden Pagoda

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is situated at Yingxian County, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, and it’s rather close to Datong City, only about 85km from it.

• 85km away from Datong city center, about 1 hour 45 minutes' drive;
• 80km away from Datong South Railway Station, about 1.5 hours' drive;
• 87km away from Datong Airport, about 1.5 hours' drive.
• 58km away from Hanging Temple, about 1 hour's drive.

Getting to Datong First: Before getting to Yungang Grottoes, you are suggested to reach Datong city first. It is recommended to take a high speed train from Beijing (2~2.5 hrs), Xian (6 hrs), Pingyao (3~3.5hrs), Taiyuan (2~2.5 hrs), etc. Flight is also available to take you to Datong from Beijing (1h), Shanghai (2.5h), Chongqing (2.5h), Xian (2h), Chengdu (2.5h) and Wuhan (2h), etc.

Datong to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda Transfer: It is recommended to drive or charter a car from the main transportation hub (like Datong South Railway Station, Datong Railway Station, Datong Yungang Airport, etc.) to Yingxian Wooden Pagoda because taking a bus will need several transfers. You can also book a private Datong trip package from us that covers the transfer, ticket, accommodation, meal, etc. to save all the troubles.