The First Tower along the Thousands of Miles of the Yangtze River

The Zhenfeng Pagoda in Yingjiang Temple, located within Anqing's Yingjiang Temple, is known as the first tower along the thousands of miles of the Yangtze River, with a history of nearly 500 years. It is situated near the Yangtze River, originally named the Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas, also known as Yingjiang Temple Pagoda, and later named 'Zhenfeng', which means 'to invigorate the literary atmosphere'. It serves both as a Buddhist pagoda and was once an important landmark for navigation on the Yangtze River. The geographical location of Zhenfeng Pagoda is excellent, with the rolling waters of the Yangtze River to the south and the crisscrossing old city district to the north, standing like the guardian deity of Anqing on the riverbank. The pagoda is nearly 61 meters tall, with a brick and stone structure, and an octagonal seven-tiered pavilion-style plan. The first layer is called 'Zhenxiong', the second 'Two Waters Divide', the third 'Three Reports of Light', the fourth 'All is Void', the fifth 'Wondrous Realms', the sixth 'Remnants of Six Dynasties', and the seventh 'Seven Levels of Stupa'. Inside the pagoda, there are cultural relics and ancient stones including steles, Buddha statues, murals, brick carvings, and stone carvings. The staircase inside the pagoda is very steep, spiraling around the pagoda as it ascends, with a narrow corridor on each level, and looking down from above can induce a strong sense of vertigo. Overlooking the river, thousands of sails pass by, with the Yangtze River bearing the historical changes and the rise and fall of this city's glory and shame. Because of the Zhenfeng Pagoda, the city of Anqing has gained a bit more spirituality, becoming a geomantic treasure land of outstanding people and a blessed environment. The remnants of the ancient state of Wan can still be faintly discerned, where traditional culture and modern civilization collide, achieving an even more splendid and brilliant Anqing!