Guinness World Records officially announced the incredible Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple in the Yingxian County of Shanxi, China as the world’s Tallest wooden pagoda yesterday.
 
The striking piece of architecture was built back in 1056 and has a remarkable height of 67.31 metres (220 ft 10 in).
 
Tallest wooden pagoda portrait
 
Often referred to as The Wooden Pagoda of Yingxian County, the stereoscopic temple was constructed using 54 types of wooden brackets - no iron was used at all.
 
Built during the reign of Qingning in Liao Dynasty, the tiered octagon-shaped tower stands on a stone base, has five outer levels and nine storeys inside.
 
Tallest wooden pagoda China
 
It has been undergoing repairs for several years after withstanding extreme weather, numerous earthquakes and even artillery fire during wartime.
 
The fact that the 960-year-old pagoda has managed to survive so much and for so long has led people to consider it an architectural miracle.
 
Tallest wooden pagoda certificate presentation
 
At the certificate presentation, Guinness World Records adjudicator Angela Wu commented: “The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple is a masterpiece of Chinese ancient architecture, and has a significant reference value even in the global architecture development history. This record is not only the miniature of Chinese history and wisdom, but also the heritage of Chinese culture and spirit. Our team finished the adjudication works during the past few months and we are very happy to verify the Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple as the tallest wooden pagoda”.
 
Receiving the award, Mr. Wang Xinjun, the administrator of cultural relics preservation at the Institute of Ying County, said: “The ancient pagoda finally fulfilled its dream today! The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple was an artwork of the diligence and intelligence of ancient Shanxi craftsmen and important legacy of our ancestors. The verification from Guinness World Records fulfilled not only the builders’ dream, but also the protectors all along thousands years. It also bridged the way to the whole world to learn about this wooden pagoda … [it] will be a significant record in our history”.