Why is Leifeng Pagoda special
As a landmark scenic spot of West Lake, the Leifeng Pagoda is located at the foot of Rihui Peak on the southern bank of the West Lake in Hangzhou City. ‘Leifeng Pagoda in the Sunset’ is one of the ‘Ten Scenes of the West Lake’, as the Pagoda looks especially beautiful when surrounded by the golden hues of the setting sun.
Leifeng Pagoda Highlights
The King of Wuyue Kingdom gave an order to build the pagoda in the year of AD 975, in order to celebrate the birth of his son by one of his favorite concubines - Huangfei. So it was called Huangfei Pagoda at that time. The pagoda was collapsed in 1924. In 1999, the government decided to re-build Leifeng Pagoda over the ruins of the old one. Opened in 2002, the new pagoda has 5 floors with an elevator that could bring visitors up to the top, which could offer a great view of West Lake and its surroundings.
The pagoda became a household name in China thanks to the popular folk tale, "the Legend of the White Snake". The tale goes that a white snake came to the human world as she was longing for human life (another version holds that she wanted to repay an obligation), and married a scholar named Xu Xian. Then the couple was separated by a monk with magical powers and the monk suppressed the Madam White Snake under Leifeng Pagoda at the bank of the West Lake. Many years later, Madam White Snake's son offered sacrifice to his mother in front of the Leifeng Pagoda. God was moved by his action and made the pagoda collapse.
Travel Tips
Entrance fee:
CNY 40 per person
Opening hours:
15, Mar to 15, Nov: 8:00-20:30;
16, Nov to Next 14, Mar: 8:00-17:30