The White Pagoda looms in the mist! The charm of ancient architecture!

The 'Baoyin Dingguang Dabao Pagoda,' commonly known as the 'Dingguang Pagoda,' and also colloquially called the 'White Pagoda' due to its whitewashed exterior walls, stands on the southwestern foothills of Yushan in Fuzhou. It echoes the Wutower on Wushan and is a symbolic ancient building of Fuzhou. In the first year of the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty (905), the King of Min, Wang Shenzhi, built this pagoda to pay tribute to his deceased parents and elder brother. Legend has it that a luminous pearl was discovered while digging the foundation of the pagoda, hence the name 'Baoyin Dingguang Dabao Pagoda.' The pagoda has an octagonal plan, with seven levels, measuring 77 feet (about 25.6 meters) in diameter and 240 feet (about 80 meters) in height. Surrounding the pagoda, a complex of buildings including pagoda halls, Dharma halls, and monks' quarters were constructed, presenting a grand view. In the thirteenth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1534), it was destroyed by a lightning strike. In the twenty-seventh year of the Jiajing era (1548), local gentry such as Gong Yongqing and Zhang Jing initiated a fundraising campaign for its reconstruction. The rebuilt White Pagoda used the original central pile as the core of the structure, with wooden floors and staircases inside. The total height is 41 meters, nearly half the height of the original. The pagoda still has eight sides, with each level offsetting a door, while the other walls have arched niches for Buddha statues. Visitors can ascend to the top via a spiral staircase connected by a gallery through the pagoda doors. The current White Pagoda is the one rebuilt in the twenty-seventh year of the Jiajing era. In the thirty-eighth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1773), it was repaired again, and a stone inscription was set to commemorate it. The inscription, written by the famous Fuzhou scholar Meng Chaoran, is still embedded on the right side of the first-level pagoda door. In 1958, the decaying wooden stairs and columns inside the pagoda were repaired or replaced, and an iron gourd was added to the spire along with a lightning rod. In 1963, during the cleaning of the surrounding environment of Dingguang Temple, the bluestone base of the Tang Dynasty wooden pagoda was unearthed. According to the restored base, the original diameter of the foundation was 10 meters larger than the existing one. The pagoda was listed as a Fujian Provincial Cultural Heritage Site in 1991. Transportation: Take Fuzhou Metro Lines 1 or 2 to Nanmendou Station, exit at G1. Multiple bus lines directly reach Yushan Station. Nearby attractions: 1. Yushan Scenic Area. Yushan is one of the three mountains of Fuzhou, with many cliff inscriptions, which calligraphy and history enthusiasts can ponder over. There are also Qigong Ancestral Hall, Jiuri Tai Concert Hall, Zhenjun Hall, Wanxiang Pavilion, Jiuxian Observatory, and Liandan Well among other sights. 2. Zhuzi Bazaar, which houses the well-preserved classical garden - Furong Garden. Only a 15-minute walk away. 3. The 5A-rated scenic spot Sanfang Qixiang, a 25-minute walk. Dining: 1. The 'Hao Zizai' semi-rock Zen tea and vegetarian restaurant inside Dingguang Temple. 2. Nearby is 'Antai Lou,' an old-brand Fuzhou flavor restaurant, offering snacks and full meals. 3. Trotter Broken Shop Nanmendou or Wuyi Square branch. 4. Head directly to Sanfang Qixiang or Dongjie Mouth area to enjoy a variety of delicious foods.