🌅 Leifeng Pagoda Visitor Guide

A Time-Honored Landmark of West Lake

“Leifeng Sunset Glow” is one of the Ten Scenic Views of West Lake. Immortalized by the legend of the White Snake, Leifeng Pagoda blends history, myth, and modern restoration into a must-see destination.

📍Basic Information

• Location: Xizhao Hill (Leifeng Hill), south shore of West Lake, Hangzhou
• Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM)
• Admission: ¥40 per person (tickets available on-site or online)
• Recommended Visit Duration: 1.5–2.5 hours

🏯Key Highlights

1.Ancient Pagoda Ruins (Ground Floor)

• The base of the new pagoda features a transparent glass floor, offering a direct view of the original 10th-century Leifeng Pagoda ruins—collapsed in 1924—preserved exactly as excavated, including foundation stones and structural remnants.

2.Underground Palace Relics Exhibition (1st Floor)

• Displays treasures unearthed from the pagoda’s underground palace, including a solid silver Asoka Stupa (housing a sacred Buddhist śarīra relic—hair of the Buddha), gilded bronze statues, and exquisite jade artifacts from the Wuyue Kingdom era.

3.White Snake Legend Woodcarving Gallery (2nd Floor)

• A full-floor corridor adorned with fine Dongyang wood carvings, vividly illustrating iconic scenes from the Legend of the White Snake: “Meeting at Broken Bridge,” “Flood of Gold Mountain,” and “Imprisonment under Leifeng Pagoda.”

4.Panoramic Viewing Deck (5th Floor)

• Take China’s only elevator inside a historic-style pagoda (or climb stairs) to the top for a 360° view of West Lake:
  • North: Su Causeway, Bai Causeway, Baochu Pagoda
  • East: Chenghuang Pavilion, Wushan Hill
  • West: Nanping Hill, Jingci Temple
  • At sunset: Witness the famed “Leifeng Sunset Glow”—golden light bathing the pagoda and lake in poetic radiance.

📜Historical Notes

• Built: In 977 AD during the Northern Song Dynasty by King Qian Chu of the Wuyue Kingdom to enshrine a sacred Buddhist relic. Originally named “Huangfei Pagoda.”
• Collapsed: On September 25, 1924, due to structural decay and brick theft (locals believed bricks had protective powers).
• Rebuilt: Reconstruction began in 2000 and completed in 2002, using a groundbreaking design—a modern steel-and-copper structure encasing and protecting the original ruins below, styled after Southern Song architecture.

🚶Suggested Itinerary

1. Enter through main gate → 2. View ancient ruins under glass floor → 3. Explore relics exhibition → 4. Admire White Snake woodcarvings → 5. Ascend to rooftop for panoramic views → 6. Capture the “Leifeng Sunset Glow”

🚌Getting There

• By Bus: Take routes 4, 31, 315, or 507H to “Jingci Temple” stop; 3-minute walk.
• Nearby Attractions to Combine:
  • Jingci Temple (across the street—home of the “Evening Bell at Nanping”)
  • Su Causeway / Viewing Fish at Flower Harbor (10-minute walk)
  • Taiziwan Park (spring cherry blossoms & tulips)