North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta)

North Temple Pagoda (Beisi Ta) at 1918 Renmin Road in Suzhou's Gusu District, Jiangsu province, China, is a nine-storey pagoda in the north of the old city and one of the tallest historic towers in Suzhou. The site is traditionally linked to a temple first founded during the Three Kingdoms period, and the present pagoda dates largely to the Song dynasty, with later repairs. It stands within the Bao'en Temple complex and has long been a landmark on the city skyline, visible from many parts of the old town.

The pagoda is an octagonal structure of brick and timber, rising to about 76 metres, with wooden balconies and upturned eaves at each level. Visitors can climb the internal staircase and step out onto the balconies, which give views over the old city's tiled rooftops, canals and the surrounding modern districts. The Bao'en Temple grounds contain halls, a small garden and a courtyard where the pagoda can be seen in full. Exhibits and Buddhist relics are displayed in some parts of the complex.

A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes, and the climb accounts for most of that time. The best photo angles are from the temple courtyard looking up at the tiers of eaves, and from the upper balconies looking across the city, especially on clear mornings. Crowds are modest compared with the major gardens, and the site is quietest on weekday mornings.

Hours are 08:00 to 17:30 daily, and admission is CNY 25, with free entry for children under 1.2 m. The pagoda is close to Beisi Ta station on Metro Line 4, which shares its name, and it is a short walk from the Suzhou Silk Museum, making it a handy add-on to a wider itinerary. It is also close to the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Suzhou Museum, and many visitors include it as a short stop before or after visiting them. Visitors who dislike climbing steep, narrow stairs may prefer to view the pagoda from the courtyard instead.