Plan at a glance
See an exceptionally intact Northern Song brick pagoda
Yanqing Temple Pagoda is in Yanqing Village, Xiping Subdistrict, Songyang County. Built in the second year of the Xianping era of the Northern Song dynasty, AD 999, to house relics, it is one of the area's most recognisable historic structures. A circuit takes about 30 minutes; allow 1–1.5 hours for the base, open first floor and supporting display.
The interest is not climbing high, but observing old brick, deep eaves, brackets and the tower's slight northeast lean. It suits architecture and history enthusiasts, Chinese-style photographers and families needing a low-effort cultural stop.
The ticket is free, but an on-site reservation is needed
Admission is free, and visitors generally complete a free reservation at the gate or through a mini-programme. Common hours are 08:30–17:30; entry arrangements may change with visitor flow, so follow the on-site information on arrival.
For conservation, visitors normally enter only the first floor; floors two and above cannot be climbed. Treat it as a building to circle, look up at and study closely rather than a viewing tower to ascend.
Tickets and visit details
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Leaning form, old brick and deep eaves
The pagoda leans northeast by about 2°38′, with an offset of about 1.76 metres, which leads to its nickname as the “Oriental Leaning Tower of Pisa”. Its seven levels diminish upward; the heavy lower level and deep upper eaves reveal Northern Song proportion and material more clearly than a distant silhouette.
The cobbled avenue on the central axis in front of the pagoda gives a full-tower view with depth. The plaque bearing the character for “pagoda”, written by Sha Menghai, also plays with the tower's leaning direction and is worth noticing without any filter.
First-floor niches and wind bells under the eaves
When the first floor is open, look for the structure, niches and stone figures such as the Laughing Arhat. The eaves carry 48 Northern Song wind bells; observe them quietly and never touch, climb or cross a restriction line.
For portraits, the cobbled approach, tower base and tree shadow can frame a person well. Evening light is gentler, but do not assume a continuous night-lighting programme; finish photographs and leave according to the opening notice.
Build your day
Thirty minutes from the east gate around the tower
Enter at the east-side main gate, walk along the cobbled avenue to the tower base, see the full structure on the central axis, then circle the tower clockwise or counter-clockwise before returning. This short line has no climb and shows the lean, old brick and eaves from several sides.
If it is busy, photograph the central axis after the circuit. Starting around the edge is easier for avoiding crowds and keeps you from standing too long in the main passage.
One to 1.5 hours with the open first floor and history display
With more time, circle the tower, enter the open first floor to study the structure and niches, visit the supporting display for the pagoda's history, then return to the avenue for a distant image. Complete the indoor or time-limited part before unhurried outdoor photography.
Do not attempt to go up in pursuit of a tower climb. The restriction above the first floor protects the monument; the exterior and first floor already provide the most reliable way to understand this Northern Song brick pagoda.
Get there
Drive to the nearby pagoda parking area
Navigate to Yanqing Temple Pagoda for nearby parking, with a stone marker at the east-side main gate. From there, the cobbled approach is direct; the compound is small enough that finding a different distant entrance gains little time.
Taxis are also easy from Songyang County town. With Huang Family Compound and Songyang Old Street on the same day, place the pagoda between them or use it as a short stop, rather than making it a rushed reward after a long mountain drive.
Travel via Songyang, then take a taxi
High-speed-rail visitors can arrive at Lishui Station and transfer at the nearby coach station to Songyang in about 1 hour. From Songyang Passenger Transport Centre, a taxi to the pagoda takes about 10 minutes and costs about CNY 11. Bus 13 is very infrequent, so taxi or driving is more dependable unless you have confirmed its timetable.
There is no metro. For groups with older visitors or children, concentrate transfers in the county town; once at the pagoda, only a gentle cobbled avenue remains.
Know before you go
The open first floor is the firm visit boundary
Open levels and reservations can change with conservation management or crowding. Read the notice before entry and cooperate with limits; free admission does not provide access to every level or permit lingering after closing.
The ground is level and the physical demand is low, but wet cobbles can be slippery. Wear flat shoes, secure camera straps and avoid stepping backwards into others while trying to frame the central axis.
Use the pagoda to connect Songyang's historic layers
Huang Family Compound is known for Qing woodcarving, while Songyang Old Street retains everyday trades; both lie near the pagoda. Linking the three moves from a Northern Song brick tower to a Qing compound and then a living street without a hurry.
County-town restaurants and snacks fit well before or after the pagoda. If you plan salt-baked chicken, fermented-rice noodles or dengzhanpan, confirm opening and queues before fixing the meal position.