Iron Pagoda Park (Kaifeng)

Iron Pagoda Park in Kaifeng, on Beimen Street about 75 km east of Zhengzhou, is home to the Iron Pagoda, one of the finest surviving Northern Song monuments in Henan. Kaifeng was the Song dynasty capital, and the pagoda was built in 1049 AD as part of the Youguo Temple. Despite its name it is not made of iron: the octagonal tower is about 55 m tall and faced with brown glazed bricks whose colour resembles iron, and which have helped it survive floods, earthquakes and centuries of conflict. Each of its 13 storeys is decorated with glazed tiles moulded with figures of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, musicians, lions, flowers and dragons, some 50 designs in all, and visitors can look closely at the detailed reliefs on lower levels. A narrow internal spiral staircase leads to upper storeys where visitors can look out over the park and the flat plain around Kaifeng, though climbing may be restricted depending on the day. The surrounding park includes gardens, an iron Buddha and additional temple structures, with shaded paths good for a relaxed stroll. Admission is about CNY 50-60, with reduced fares for children, and the park opens daily from about 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, so verify on Amap. A visit takes one to one and a half hours. Spring and autumn give comfortable weather, and morning light is good for photographing the brown tiles. The park is busiest at weekends and public holidays, while weekday mornings are quiet. From Zhengzhou East, intercity trains take about 20-30 minutes for CNY 20-30, followed by a taxi. Kaifeng's other sights, such as the Millennium City Park, the Dragon Pavilion and the night markets, fit into the same day trip, and Kaifeng's night market is known for local snacks. Stand back on the lawn for a full-frame photo, and use a wide lens or step back along the path to capture the full height of the tower.