The tallest wooden pagoda in the world

The majestic timber structure was originally built on a stone platform that stood at four meters high, while the steeple of the pagoda stands at an incredible ten meters high. 

In its entirety, the octagonal-based landmark reaches a whopping total of 67.31 meters (220 feet 83 in), making it one of the most complex man-made ancient structures on earth and the tallest wooden pagoda in the world. 

Despite being considerably shorter than other modern record-breaking buildings (the Hall of Famer Burj Khalifa (or Khalifa Tower) measures 828 m (2,716 ft 6 in) and is the tallest building in the world, featuring a plethora of amenities such as supermarkets, bookstores and luxury apartments), the Sakyamuni pagoda stands out as one of the most interesting buildings of ancient times. 

The finely decorated structure, the history that pervades its sloped roof and pinnacle, the valuable paintings and the complex engineering necessary to build it make the Sakyamuni Pagoda an unparalleled jewel of architecture that transcends time, even more so considering that it survived seven earthquakes in the first 50 years to its creation. 

This gem of Ancient China is characterized by a majestic octagonal diameter (one of the many new styles incorporated by the Five Dynasties) and, on the first storey, it measures an incredible 30.27 meters (almost 105 ft).

It also features a seven-piece pinnacle that, alone, measures 10 meters (32 ft).

Placed at the centre of the Fongong Temple grounds and towering over the vast countryside of north China, the Sakyamuni pagoda is an artistic expression of great architectural value. 

Under the beautifully decorated ceiling of the Muta (translated into “timber pagoda”, as it’s known in China), the pillars on each floor slant slightly inward as the plane size diminishes floor by floor, allowing the monument to weather storms and quakes. 

The windowless outer walls on the ground floor, as well as the enclosing corridors and eaves, all contribute to further strengthen the sense of stability of the entire building. 

A long-term engineering choice that proved to be indeed farsighted, allowing the pagoda to stand tall through the centuries despite the many earthquakes that shook the area.

“According to historical records,” writes the official website of the monument, “the pagoda stood firm during a severe earthquake that lasted seven days, and that occurred during the reign of Emperor Shun of the Yuan Dynasty (roughly 1333-1368).” 

“Though the Yingxian County area was affected by the big earthquakes in Xingtai and in the city of Tangshan, northeast of Hebei Province, as well as and in Helinger of Inner Mongolia in recent years, the Wooden Pagoda did not suffer any damage.”

A 3D model of the pagoda can be useful to understand its incredible balance and sturdiness:

The pagoda's antiseismic strength is a modern-day testament to the achievement of wooden structures and engineering in ancient China. 

Apparently unscathed by the decades, the only trace that time has left on the pagoda is that, today, the monument appears slightly titled to one side – not too different from the Italian Tower of Pisa, although the slant is way less dramatic.

Sculptures of crawling lions and several mural paintings adorn the doorway. 

All showcasing the classic Liao Dynasty style, the decorations depict warrior attendants, heavenly kings, female attendants and Buddhist disciples. 

While entering the southern door of the pagoda, visitors are welcomed by a ten-meter-high statue of Sakyamuni, sitting on a throne of lotus flowers.

A much more recent (but not less impressive) pagoda recently entered the Guinness World Records family as the overall tallest pagoda in the world: the modern Tianning Pagoda proudly towers over the city of Changzhou, China, and made history thanks to its ambitious size.

 After the construction work started in 2002, it was completed in 2007.

Overall, the 13-storey pagoda stands at a never-reached-before 153.79 m (504.56 ft).