Liuhe Pagoda facts for kids

Liuhe Pagoda

The Liuhe Pagoda (which means Six Harmonies Pagoda) is a tall, beautiful tower in southern Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, China. It stands proudly at the bottom of Yuelun Hill, looking out over the Qiantang River. This amazing building was first built way back in 970 by the Wuyue Kingdom. It was later destroyed in 1121, but then rebuilt by 1165 during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279).

History of the Liuhe Pagoda

The Liuhe Pagoda was first built by the ruler of the Wuyue Kingdom. Hangzhou was the capital city of this kingdom. The name Liuhe comes from six important Buddhist ideas. People say the pagoda was built to help calm the big tidal bore waves of the Qiantang River. It also helped sailors find their way, acting like a giant signpost. Sadly, the first pagoda was completely destroyed during a war in 1121.

Rebuilding and Design of the Pagoda

The pagoda you see today was rebuilt using wood and brick during the Southern Song dynasty. Later, during the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and Qing dynasty (1644–1911), more decorative roofs were added to the outside.

The pagoda has eight sides and is about 60 meters (197 feet) tall. From the outside, it looks like it has thirteen stories. But inside, it only has seven floors! There is a spiral staircase that goes all the way to the top floor. On the ceiling of each of the seven inside floors, you can see amazing carvings and paintings. These show animals, flowers, birds, and even characters. Each part of the pagoda has four main sections: the outer walls, a winding hallway, the inner walls, and a small room. When you look at the pagoda from far away, it seems to have bright parts on top and dark parts underneath. This creates a cool pattern of light and shadow.

Pagoda as a Lighthouse

A British expert named Joseph Needham said that the Liuhe Pagoda also worked as a lighthouse. Because it was so big and tall, it helped sailors find a safe place to stop their ships at night. This was written about in an old book called the Hangzhou Fu Zhi.

Pagoda Park Nearby

Recently, a small "Pagoda Park" opened near the Liuhe Pagoda. In this park, you can see models of many old Chinese pagodas. The park shows how different pagodas look and teaches about their history, culture, and what they symbolize.