Longtan Pagoda in Shangrao, Jiangxi

Longtan Pagoda, originally built during the Wanli period (1573–1620) of the Ming Dynasty's Shenzong Emperor, stands on the north bank of the Xinjiang River. Below the pagoda lies a deep pool formed by the confluence of the Xinjiang and Fengxi Rivers (old river course). Inscribed on the stone cliffs above the water were two large seal script characters, "Longtan" (Dragon Pool), hence the pagoda's name "Jianlong Pagoda," also known as "Longtan Pagoda." The current seven-story pagoda stands 49.7 meters tall with a diameter of 10 meters. It features an octagonal brick and stone structure, and a stone staircase spirals upwards inside. Over time, Longtan Pagoda collapsed, leaving only two stories. In the 19th year of the Qing Jiaqing Emperor's reign (1814), Prefect Wang Gengyan, Subprefect Wang Zhengxiu, and Shangrao County Magistrate Lai Xun led the way in donating their salaries to rebuild five levels atop the remaining two-tiered structure, following the Qing Dynasty's feng shui pagoda regulations. The upper level enshrined a statue of the Zitong Emperor (also known as Wenchang Emperor, Wenquxing, or Wenxing), and Longtan Pagoda was renamed "Kuiwen Pagoda." A green stone inscription recording Wang Gengyan and others' restoration of Kuiwen Pagoda is embedded in the fourth-story wall. Marks from various brick kilns of that time can be found on the bricks from the third to seventh stories. A pagoda courtyard was also built below, housing several rooms, including the Chunyang Building, Huiji Lady Shrine, Cangjie Shrine, a furnace for burning written characters, and a water-viewing pavilion, attracting many scholars and writers. By the late Qing Dynasty, these ancillary buildings had collapsed, leaving only the character-burning furnace. Therefore, the lower two levels of Kuiwen Pagoda, familiar to Shangrao residents, follow the Ming Dynasty style, while the upper five levels reflect the Qing Dynasty style. This single pagoda bears witness to two dynasties, guarding the confluence of three rivers, and has become one of Shangrao's truly iconic landmarks. It is a key protected cultural relic site in Jiangxi Province.