Pazhou Pagoda

The Pazhou Pagoda, also known as the Whampoa Pagoda or Pa Chow Pogoda, is an early modern Chinese pagoda on Pazhou Island in Haizhu District, Guangzhou, the capital of China's Guangdong Province.^[1]

Pazhou Pagoda
Chinese	琶洲塔
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Pázhōutǎ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Paa⁴zau¹ Taap³

History

Construction of the Whampoa Pagoda was initiated in 1597 and was completely built by 1600.^[1] The pagoda is situated on a knoll at the south bank of Pearl River. Although it was built as a Buddhist landmark, it was also a useful navigation point for merchant ships traveling to Guangzhou.^[1][2][3]

Architecture

It is an octagonal tower with 9 main sections and 17 sub sections.^[4] The tower stands at about 59 metres (194 ft), and has a diameter at the base of 12.7 metres (42 ft).^[4] It covers a total area of 111 square metres.^[4]

Functioning in a similar fashion to Chigang Pagoda, it was built for Fengshui and allow safe navigation of merchant ships traveling along the Pearl River towards Guangzhou.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  The Pazhou Pagoda in 2023
• 
  The Pagoda in 1880
• 
  Drawing of the Pagoda and Changzhou Island, 1858