Zhangye Landmark Building: Millennium Wooden Pagoda Temple, See Five Dynasties Ancient Brick Carvings

In the center of the old city of Zhangye, at the Civic Square, there stands a tall pagoda. Beneath the pagoda, there is an ancient temple called Wanshou Temple. Because the ancient pagoda is very prominent, it has become a landmark building in Zhangye, so locals are accustomed to calling the ancient temple 'Wooden Pagoda Temple'. 【Basic Introduction】 Wooden Pagoda Temple (Wanshou Temple) is located on Nanjie Street, Zhangye County, originally within the campus of Zhangye Middle School, now known as Ancient Pagoda Square. The temple and pagoda were initially built in the Northern Zhou Dynasty or even earlier, and have been rebuilt during the Sui, Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The pagoda is over 30 meters high, with eight sides and nine levels. Each level has wooden dragon heads with pearls in their mouths and wind chimes hanging below. The main structure of the pagoda is wooden, with pavilion-style eaves. The inner walls of the pagoda are made of hollow bricks, with doors, windows, floors, corridors, and a central core on each level. The windows are decorated with floral carvings, and the door lintels are embedded with brick carvings. 【Main Highlights】 The first level of the pagoda has 'Ascend to Ultimate Bliss' on the east and 'Enter Samadhi' on the west. The second level has 'True Enlightenment of the Western Heaven' on the east and 'Precious Golden Rope' on the west. The entire pagoda is constructed without a single nail or rivet, relying entirely on dougong (bracket sets), beams, columns, and interlocking structures, making it a complete and sturdy wooden structure. There are stairs for climbing, and each level has corridors and railings for viewing the distant scenery. The walls inside the Wooden Pagoda Temple now house the Zhangye Folk Custom Museum. 🌄 【Other Information】 Tickets: 5 yuan. Wooden Pagoda Temple (Wanshou Temple) is very close to the main tourist attractions in the main urban area of Zhangye, such as the Zhangye Museum, Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, and Xilai Temple, all within walking distance. The temple is located in the commercial center of the old city of Zhangye, with shopping malls nearby, making it convenient for shopping and dining.