Dragon Light Pagoda (Longguang Pagoda)

The Dragon Light Pagoda, known in Chinese as Longguang Pagoda, stands on the summit of Xishan within Xihui Park in Liangxi District, Wuxi, Jiangsu province. It is a seven-storey octagonal brick-and-timber pagoda first built during the Ming dynasty, in the early 17th century, and rebuilt after later damage, and it is widely regarded as the symbol of Wuxi's skyline. Its position on the hilltop makes it visible across much of the old city and from Taihu Lake, and it was long used as a landmark by boatmen and travellers. The pagoda follows the Jiangnan pattern of tall, slender towers with upturned eaves and hanging bells at each tier. Visitors can climb internal stairs to the upper floors, where balconies open onto views over the city, the Grand Canal plain and, on clear days, the lake. At the foot of the hill lie the Huishan Ancient Town, Jichang Garden and the Second Spring Under Heaven, which together make up a heritage cluster, and the pagoda forms the high point of Xihui Park's wooded paths and temple remains. The tower is not a stand-alone museum; its interest lies in the architecture and the panorama. Interpretive signs describe the history of the pagoda and its rebuilding, and a small temple complex nearby adds context. Restoration over the past decades has stabilised the structure and repaired the eaves, and a visit generally means a gentle uphill walk of about thirty minutes from the park gate, followed by the climb inside the tower.