Longhua Pagoda, a living fossil
By Tan Xian (shanghai daily)
Updated: 2006-09-29 10:02 Magnificent Longhua Pagoda - Shanghai's "Leaning
Tower of Pisa" - has finally reopened for the first time since 1949, restored
and its "slant" secured.
It is now open to the public for the first three days of the National Day
holiday as part of the ongoing Shanghai Tourism Festival.
Recently listed as a National Protected Cultural Relic, Longhua Pagoda marked
its 1,759th year last Thursday with
celebrations.
That day was also the birth anniversary of Ksitigarbha, one of China's four
major Buddhas, along with Avalokitesvara or Gwanyin, Manjusri and Puxian.
"It was a great day for pilgrims," says Zhao Haiyan, director of Longhua
Tourism City Development Co, explaining why the date was chosen. "We had planned
the reopening on its 1490th anniversary, which was nine years ago, but it turned
out that the whole process was slow."
The pagoda leaned 1.04 meters to the east in 1998. The structure and
foundation were strengthened, but the lean remains.
The pagoda is 40.64 meters high, seven stories, octagonally shaped, made of
brick and wood, with upturned eaves, bell and drum towers.
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