Yingxian Wooden Pagoda (Pagoda of Fogong Temple)

The Yingxian Wooden Pagoda, formally the Shijia Pagoda of Fogong Temple, stands in the centre of Ying County town in Shuozhou, northern Shanxi, China. Built in 1056 during the Liao dynasty, it is widely regarded as the oldest and tallest surviving fully timber pagoda in the world, rising about 67 metres on an octagonal plan. From outside it appears to have five storeys, but concealed mezzanine levels bring the internal total to nine. The structure is held together by an elaborate system of interlocking brackets and beams without nails, and it has survived centuries of earthquakes and wars. Inside, a large seated Sakyamuni Buddha occupies the ground floor, and further statues and murals appear on the upper levels where access is allowed. Visitors typically walk around the courtyard of Fogong Temple, view the pagoda from several angles and enter the ground-floor hall; climbing to the upper levels has been restricted in recent years for conservation reasons, so current access should be confirmed locally. The temple grounds also hold a few smaller halls and a quiet courtyard. A visit takes about an hour. Late afternoon light warms the timber facade and gives the best photographs, while wide-angle lenses help since the courtyard is relatively compact. Ying County is about 70 km south of Datong, and most visitors reach it on a chartered car day trip combined with the Hanging Monastery. Crowds are modest outside the summer months and Chinese national holidays, and weekday mornings are generally the quietest.