Leifeng Pagoda, Hangzhou

Leifeng Pagoda stands on Sunset Hill (Xizhao Shan) at the southern edge of West Lake, one of the most photographed silhouettes in Hangzhou. The original brick-and-wood tower was raised in 977 AD during the Wuyue Kingdom; it slowly decayed over the centuries and finally collapsed in 1924. The honey-coloured pagoda you climb today was rebuilt in 2002 directly over the excavated ruins, which are preserved under glass in the basement.

Highlights

The pagoda is woven into the Legend of the White Snake, China's best-loved folk romance, in which the monk Fahai imprisons the white-snake spirit Bai Suzhen beneath the tower. Inside you will find gilded relief carvings retelling the tale, the protected Tang-Song foundation, and — on the upper galleries — some of the finest panoramas of the lake, the Su Causeway and the distant hills. At dusk the tower glows against the sky, the scene celebrated for centuries as "Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow."

Opening Hours

Seasonal: 08:00–17:30 (1 Nov–15 Mar), 08:00–19:00 (16 Mar–30 Apr) and 08:00–20:00 (1 May–31 Oct). Ticket sales stop roughly 30 minutes before closing.

Tickets

Standard admission is 40 RMB; students and visitors over 70 pay about 20 RMB with valid ID. Escalators and a lift carry you up the hillside and the lower floors, so the climb is gentle.

Getting There

Take bus Y2, 4 or 504 to the Jingci Temple / Leifeng Pagoda stop on Nanshan Road. Many visitors simply walk around the southern shore from the Su Causeway, or arrive by sightseeing boat across the lake.

Best Time to Visit

Late afternoon into sunset is magical, when the tower lights up and the lake turns gold. Autumn brings clear skies and coloured foliage; spring pairs the pagoda with blossom along the shore.

Visitor Tips

Combine the visit with Jingci Temple and the Su Causeway next door. Photographers should cross to the north shore (near the Broken Bridge) for the classic long-lens shot of the pagoda above the trees.