What Ancient Pagodas Can Be Found in Beijing?

What Ancient Pagodas Can Be Found in Beijing?

BEIJING – Feb, 2026 – Beyond its palaces, hutongs, and imperial altars, Beijing preserves another, often overlooked architectural legacy: its ancient pagodas. Scattered across temple grounds, suburban hills, and former imperial precincts, these towers document nearly a thousand years of religious practice, political symbolism, and cross-cultural exchange.

From Liao dynasty brick towers to Tibetan-style white stupas commissioned by Mongol and Qing rulers, Beijing’s pagodas offer a vertical timeline of the city’s transformation from frontier stronghold to imperial capital.

Key Points

Dynastic Layers

• Many surviving pagodas date from the Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties
• Architectural styles reflect shifting political and religious influences

Religious Significance

• Most pagodas are linked to Buddhist temples, relic enshrinement, or imperial patronage
• Tibetan Buddhist stupas became prominent under Yuan and Qing rule

Architectural Diversity

• Brick pavilion-style pagodas coexist with dense-eaved towers and white dagobas
• Designs reveal a blend of Han Chinese and Tibetan influences

Urban and Suburban Distribution

• Major examples are located both within central Beijing and in outlying districts
• Several pagodas survive despite the destruction of their original temple complexes

Tianning Temple Pagoda (天宁寺塔)

Often regarded as the oldest standing pagoda in urban Beijing, the Tianning Temple Pagoda dates to the Liao dynasty (10th–12th century). Located in the city’s western district, it exemplifies the classic brick pavilion-style pagoda.

The structure is octagonal in plan and rises in multiple stories with elaborately carved brick details, including Buddhist niches and decorative reliefs. Although the surrounding temple has undergone reconstruction, the pagoda itself remains a rare architectural remnant of Beijing’s pre-Yuan history.

Industry consensus among architectural historians suggests that this tower provides valuable insight into northern Chinese Buddhist architecture before Beijing became the capital of a unified empire.

White Dagoba of Miaoying Temple (妙应寺白塔)

One of Beijing’s most visually distinctive monuments is the White Dagoba (Baita), originally constructed during the Yuan dynasty in the 13th century under the patronage of Kublai Khan.

Designed in the Tibetan stupa style and traditionally attributed to the Nepalese architect Araniko, the White Dagoba reflects the cosmopolitan religious culture of the Mongol court. Its hemispherical dome and tapering spire differ markedly from traditional Chinese pavilion-style pagodas.

The structure underscores the political symbolism of Tibetan Buddhism within Yuan rule. It also illustrates Beijing’s early role as a crossroads of Central Asian, Himalayan, and Han Chinese cultural influences.

Fayuan Temple Pagoda (法源寺塔)

Fayuan Temple, one of Beijing’s oldest Buddhist temples, houses historic pagoda structures associated with relic enshrinement and monastic activity. While the current temple complex largely reflects later renovations, its origins trace back to the Tang dynasty.

The pagodas within the temple grounds embody a quieter architectural presence compared to the more monumental towers elsewhere in the city. Their significance lies less in height and more in continuity, representing sustained Buddhist practice through successive dynasties.

Tanzhe Temple Pagodas (潭柘寺塔林)

Located in Beijing’s western hills, Tanzhe Temple predates the city’s status as imperial capital and contains a forest of smaller pagodas, known as a talinta (塔林), or pagoda forest.

These stone and brick stupas mark the burial sites of eminent monks. Unlike monumental urban pagodas, they form a collective sacred landscape. The varying forms and inscriptions provide a layered record of religious authority and monastic lineage.

Many analysts view such pagoda forests as important for understanding lived religious traditions rather than solely state-sponsored architecture.

Lingguang Temple Pagoda (灵光寺塔)

Lingguang Temple, situated in the Badachu scenic area, is known for housing a revered Buddhist relic. Its pagoda structure has undergone multiple reconstructions over centuries due to warfare and natural damage.

Although the present tower reflects later rebuilding phases, the site’s continuity highlights the resilience of Buddhist architectural symbolism within Beijing’s shifting political environment.

Yinshan Pagodas (银山塔林)

In Beijing’s northern Changping district, the Yinshan Pagoda Forest presents another cluster of historic towers dating primarily to the Liao and Jin dynasties.

These pagodas vary in height and style, with some exhibiting dense-eaved forms typical of northern China. Set against mountainous terrain, the site offers insight into how religious architecture was integrated into natural landscapes beyond the imperial core.

Architectural Typologies in Beijing

Beijing’s ancient pagodas generally fall into three principal architectural categories:

• Pavilion-style brick pagodas with visible stories and octagonal plans
• Dense-eaved towers emphasizing vertical rhythm and ornamental layering
• Tibetan-style white stupas (dagobas) associated with Lamaist Buddhism

The coexistence of these forms reflects both dynastic succession and evolving patterns of religious patronage. Under Mongol and Manchu rule, Tibetan Buddhist forms gained prominence, while earlier Han Chinese models persisted in monastic contexts.

Cultural and Urban Significance

Although Beijing is more commonly associated with horizontal imperial architecture—palaces, courtyards, and city walls—its pagodas introduce a vertical dimension to the historical skyline.

Many original temple complexes were damaged or destroyed during periods of conflict and urban redevelopment. The survival of certain pagodas, therefore, provides rare physical continuity across centuries of political transition.

Their preservation today reflects broader cultural heritage efforts, though conservation challenges remain. Weathering, seismic vulnerability, and urban encroachment continue to affect several sites.

A Vertical Record of Beijing’s History

Beijing’s ancient pagodas are not merely religious monuments; they are architectural documents of shifting imperial priorities, cross-cultural exchange, and spiritual life. From Liao brick craftsmanship to Yuan-era white stupas and Qing-era restorations, these towers chart the city’s evolution across nearly a millennium.

For visitors and scholars alike, they offer an alternative lens on Beijing’s past—one that rises above the palace roofs and extends deep into the layered foundations of China’s imperial and religious history.