[2025 Kaifeng Attraction] Travel Guide for Fanta Pagoda (Updated Mar)

The Fan Pagoda in Kaifeng was one of the most important stops on this trip. It is the oldest existing ground-level structure in Kaifeng, a landmark building, a unique example of Song Dynasty pagodas in Henan, and a representative work of Northern Song Buddhist art. It is now a national key cultural relic protection unit. The character "Fan" (pronounced "po") in Fan Pagoda is used as a surname/ancient place name pronunciation. This place was originally the fief of Fan Bo during the Spring and Autumn Period and was called Fan Tai. The pagoda is named after the platform and is pronounced "po." The pagoda was built in the seventh year of the Kaibao reign of the Northern Song Dynasty and is as famous as the Iron Pagoda. It was called "None of the hundred pagodas in Tokyo can match it." It was damaged (naturally) in the mid-Yuan Dynasty and repaired during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with a six-story small pagoda added, forming a unique "large pagoda wearing a small pagoda" shape. The most special feature of the Fan Pagoda is that it is inlaid with nearly 7,000 molded relief bricks, with 108 different shapes, each brick depicting a Buddha, which is very impressive. The carving lines are smooth, the faces are full, and the craftsmanship is exquisite. The inner wall of the tower is embedded with 178 pieces of Song Dynasty stone carvings. It's a pity that you can't climb the tower. The core of the scenic spot is the Fan Pagoda. You can walk around the pagoda to see the brick carvings. It's quite overwhelming up close. It is highly recommended to visit when you come to Kaifeng. The Iron Pagoda in the north and the Fan Pagoda in the south are the only two "authentic" pagodas in Kaifeng. The entrance fee is 15 yuan. Take bus No. 8 from the city to Yuwangtai. There is a downward passage at the intersection on the east side. Go through a demolition area to reach the scenic spot. The west gate of Yuwangtai Park is opposite the main gate, so you can visit it as well.

10 years ago (2015), Kaifeng was the first destination I traveled to with a backpack. The reason was simple: the Northern Song Dynasty. The tragedy of the Jingkang Incident in Tokyo Dream Hualu is lamentable! The Song Dynasty, in its prime, was suddenly defeated without any power to fight back. It was hateful and sad! (I even chose the font of the foolish emperor for the first picture) Fan Tower and Iron Tower coexist, becoming the only two Song Dynasty relics on the surface of Kaifeng. Led by a friend, I saw Fan Tower surrounded by courtyard walls in the wilderness as soon as I got off the car. It was particularly eye-catching in the afterglow of the setting sun, with withered vines and old trees, overgrown with weeds, and only a few passersby. The country is broken, but the mountains and rivers remain, and the city is full of grass and trees in spring. Fan Tower witnessed the prosperity and destruction of Bianliang City in Tokyo, Northern Song Dynasty, the devastation of the people, and several floods of the Yellow River... It was just what I wanted for my trip to the Northern Song Dynasty! 📷Recommended highlights: More than 7,000 Buddha bricks are embedded inside and outside the tower, with one Buddha on each brick, which is spectacular; 199 stone carvings are preserved, including 187 inscriptions, which are a huge treasure trove of calligraphy; The scriptures and inscriptions in Fan Tower comprehensively cover the original appearance of Kaifeng's regular script in the early Northern Song Dynasty... Ticket 🎫: CNY 15/person National protection 💎: The third batch of national key cultural relics protection units Nearby 🌈: Ancient Chuitai, Xinhai Revolution Martyrs Cemetery

My cultural journey in Kaifeng, exploring the ancient Thousand Buddha Pagoda. I drove to Kaifeng, and the first stop was the ancient Thousand Buddha Pagoda, also known as the Fan Pagoda. Attraction Introduction The Fan Pagoda is located in Yuwangtai District, Kaifeng. It was built in the 7th year of Kaibao in the Northern Song Dynasty (974 AD) and was originally named Xingci Pagoda. It was the first Buddhist pagoda built in Kaifeng. It was named "Fan Pagoda" because it was built on the Fan Terrace. Check-in Strategy The Fan Pagoda was originally nine stories high, about 76 meters. It was cut off at the waist in the early Ming Dynasty, and now only three floors remain, with a total height of about 36.68 meters. There are more than 7,000 Buddha bricks inlaid inside and outside the pagoda, one brick and one Buddha, which is very spectacular. Admire the Buddha statues inside and outside the pagoda carefully, and find that each one is different, either sitting on a lotus or riding on a divine beast, lifelike and exquisitely carved. Transportation Information There is a free parking lot for self-driving, and it is also very convenient to take public transportation. The ticket is 15 yuan/person. Tips 1. This is a relatively niche attraction in Kaifeng. There is a garden in the scenic spot, and the center is the Fan Pagoda. The whole journey can be completed in 30 to 40 minutes; 2. It is recommended for cultural travel enthusiasts to go once, whether it is for photography or studying the pagoda, it is a very meaningful journey.

🙋 This is Bianliang, bustling in the Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, and the lively capital of the Song Dynasty in the Dream of the Capital. It is also the ancient capital of Kaifeng, filled with cultural relics and historical sites. When it comes to truly ancient relics in Kaifeng, the Fan Pagoda and the Iron Pagoda are legendary. 🏮 Historical Background: What impresses me most about the Fan Pagoda is the character 'Fan' (繁), which is pronounced 'pó' according to the introduction. It is named Fan Pagoda because it is located on Fan Terrace (Fan Tai) in Yuwangtai Park, Kaifeng. It is said that Shi Kuang, a blind musician from the Jin State during the Spring and Autumn period, often played ancient music here. The Fan Pagoda was built during the Northern Song Dynasty, over 1,000 years ago, and is the oldest surviving Buddhist building in Kaifeng. 🔥 Main Highlights: 1️⃣ The pagoda itself is an art treasure trove. The hexagonal shape of the pagoda represents the transition of Chinese pagodas from quadrilateral to octagonal forms. 2️⃣ The body of the Fan Pagoda is composed of nearly ten thousand Buddha bricks, each brick depicting a Buddha, including Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and musicians, totaling 108 types. It resembles the armor of a warrior, majestic and imposing. 3️⃣ The internal passageways of the pagoda are like a maze. To ascend the pagoda, one must climb from the left and right sides to reach the third level directly. However, to enter the second level or the top of the pagoda, one must spiral along the outer wall. Currently, it is not open to tourists, and one can only appreciate it from the outside. 4️⃣ There are over 200 existing inscriptions inside the pagoda, mainly from the Song Dynasty, with the most famous being the 'Three Classics' written by the Song Dynasty calligrapher Zhao Anren. The 'Three Classics' are stored on the upper and lower levels of the pagoda. 🎟 Ticket Price: 30 yuan. Since there is only this solitary pagoda, the overall visit time is less than an hour, making the single ticket relatively expensive. It is recommended to purchase the 80 yuan pass for the 10 attractions in the Song Capital Imperial City Resort Area. This pass allows unlimited access to 10 attractions including Wansui Mountain Song Martial Arts City, Qifeng Ancient Garden, China Han Garden, Kaifeng Ancient City Wall Scenic Area, Zhou Bridge and Bian River Ruins, Underground War Preparedness Granary, Shanxi-Shaanxi-Gansu Guild Hall, Yanqing Temple, Fan Pagoda, and Zhuxian Town Yue Temple, valid for 5 days. 📍 Address: East Yijie Street, Fan Pagoda, Yuwangtai District, Kaifeng City. This area is quite desolate in Kaifeng, with few dining options nearby, so it is advisable to bring some snacks. 🌺 Nearby Attractions: The Fan Pagoda Scenic Area is very niche, hidden in a corner of the ancient city of Kaifeng, with a small area. Besides the ancient Yuwangtai Park, there are no other scenic or cultural sites nearby. The solitary pagoda stands there, surrounded by lush seasonal plants, the ancient pagoda standing alone against the blue sky, exuding a sense of tranquility and serenity. This is the perfect place to visit ancient sites in Kaifeng.

Kaifeng·Fanta Tower Journey This tower, like a pearl left behind by the Song Dynasty on earth, stands tall on the bustling platform, telling the story of a thousand years of vicissitudes. Built in the seventh year of the Kaibao era of the Northern Song Dynasty, it is the oldest existing building in the Kaifeng area, witnessing the rise and fall of this ancient capital. The Fanta site is high and distant, and the spring sunshine sprinkles on it, like a flowing scroll, displaying the charming scenery of 'Fanta spring color'. I walked into the small courtyard of the Fanta Tower, and the afternoon sun shone through the treetops onto the ground, forming a mottled light and shadow. In the small courtyard with almost no tourists, I was able to calm down and savor the unique charm of this ancient tower. The tower body is inlaid with Buddha statue bricks, one brick one Buddha, a total of 108 kinds, more than 7,000 pieces, as if each brick carries a piece of history, a story. I walked slowly around the Fanta Tower, and wherever my eyes went, the Buddha statues on those Buddha statue bricks had different expressions, solemn and symmetrical, as if they were telling me the secrets of a thousand years. In front of the second floor of the tower, I found 20 musician statues. They are all dressed as Bodhisattvas, draped in tassels, with Buddha headdresses, each holding a musical instrument, forming a complete lineup and a full range of musical instruments of a Buddhist temple orchestra from the Song Dynasty. These musical instruments clearly reflect the characteristics of the early Song Dynasty Kucha orchestra, making one feel as if they could travel through time and space to listen to the melodious music. Leaving the Fanta Tower, I followed the signs to the nearby Ercheng Academy Stele. This was once the lecture site of the founders of Neo-Confucianism in the Northern Song Dynasty, Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao, and also one of the earliest academies in Kaifeng. Although the academy no longer exists, this stone stele carries a profound historical and cultural heritage. I stood and gazed, as if I could feel the 'Two Chengs' lecturing here

Kaifeng, although it is the ancient capital of eight dynasties, has been flooded by the Yellow River several times, and now there are only three real ancient objects on the ground: Fan (po with the second tone) Tower. Fan Tower was built during the Northern Song Dynasty. The biggest highlight is that more than 7,000 Buddha bricks are inlaid inside and outside the tower body, one brick for one Buddha. Unlike the Iron Pagoda mentioned below, Fan Tower was not built by the government; these Buddha bricks were donated by the people at that time. The original Fan Tower had nine levels, but two were destroyed by lightning during the Yuan Dynasty, and four more were demolished during the early Ming Dynasty in the 'scrape away the royal qi' incident, leaving only three levels. A six-level small pagoda was added on top of the three-level platform in the early Qing Dynasty. The Fan Tower has survived lightning strikes⚡️, wars, and floods to this day, which is indeed fortunate. Iron Pagoda. The Iron Pagoda was built during the Northern Song Dynasty and is known as 'the number one pagoda in the world.' The biggest highlight is that it is made of brown glazed bricks (not made of iron, but the color is very similar to cast iron). It is the tallest, oldest, and best-preserved glazed brick pagoda in China. This place was once the royal temple Kaibao Temple, hence it is also known as Kaibao Temple Pagoda. The patterns of apsaras, lions, dragons, and pagoda-guarding beasts on the glazed bricks are clearly visible. The Iron Pagoda does have an underground palace! Yanqing Temple. Yanqing Temple was built during the Yuan Dynasty to commemorate the founder of the Quanzhen School, Wang Chongyang, who preached and died here. The biggest highlight is that the Jade Emperor Pavilion inside the temple was buried more than 3 meters underground (because Kaifeng city was flooded by the Yellow River several times), and after the founding of the People's Republic, it was lifted out of the ground. There is an introduction to the lifting process in the underground palace. A few suggestions: 🅿️ Fan Tower has a small parking lot with about 20 parking spaces. Don't drive to the Iron Pagoda on holidays, as it is close to Wansui Mountain and the Old River Big Night Market, and sometimes entry is restricted🚫. It is also recommended to ride a shared electric bike to Yanqing Temple (actually, we walked there ) 🔥 These three places are not very crowded, the Iron Pagoda has a relatively larger flow of people, but Fan Tower and Yanqing Temple are almost empty, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility. 🎫 For tickets, Fan Tower and Yanqing Temple are included in the Song Dynasty Imperial City pass, while the Iron Pagoda is free. Opposite Yanqing Temple, there is an old Huang family shop, which is probably not the one you want to go to, Old Huang Ji .

|Fan Tower.🌟Highlights: Fan Tower was established in the seventh year of Kaibao of the Northern Song Dynasty (974 AD), and is the oldest existing building in Kaifeng area, with a history of more than 1000 years. It is a typical representative of the hexagonal Buddhist pagoda in the early Northern Song Dynasty. Influenced by it, a large number of Buddhist pagodas with similar styles appeared in the Central Plains region in the early Northern Song Dynasty centered on Fan Tower. Fan Tower is 36.68 meters high, with a base area of 501.6 square meters. The tower body is inlaid with brick statues inside and outside, one brick and one statue, and the whole body of statues forms beautiful decorations. The statues are arranged in a orderly manner, forming a unified whole with the tower body. The statue art of Fan Tower is extremely exquisite, including nearly a hundred kinds of Bodhisattvas, Luohans, musicians, etc., with more than 7,000 statues, each with different postures, vividly displaying the superhuman skills of Song Dynasty artists in carving and molding. The tower preserves 178 complete inscriptions, mostly from the Song Dynasty, including Buddhist scriptures, inscriptions of donors, etc., and the ink traces of donors are still preserved on the Buddhist bricks, which are precious materials for studying Buddhism. Fan Tower is famous at home and abroad for its exquisite Buddhist brick carvings, rich inscriptions and calligraphy art, precious underground palace materials, rare architectural shapes and mysterious hierarchical issues. 📍Detailed address: No. 30, Fan Tower West Street, Yuwangtai District, Kaifeng City, Henan Province 💰Average consumption: 15 yuan 📝Note tips: 1. Recommended attractions for Kaifeng ancient buildings two-day tour——Fan Tower, Iron Tower, Daxiangguo Temple, Yanqing View, Shanxi Gansu Guild Hall. 2. Recommended for Kaifeng ancient town one-day tour——Zhuxian Town. 3. Recommended for Kaifeng ancient style folk one-day tour——Qingming Shanghe Garden. 4. Recommended for Kaifeng snack street——Grass Market Street. 5. Recommended for Kaifeng souvenirs——Xingshengde Peanuts, Baiji Peanut Cake, Shajia Soy Sauce Beef. Fan Tower