Located inside Fogong Temple, about 70 kilometers south of Datong city, the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda is the oldest and highest wooden structure in China. Together with the Eiffel Tower in France and Pisa Leaning Tower of in Italy, it is regarded as one of the three pagodas in the World. Also, it is a famous tourist destination in Datong.

Yingxian Wooden Pagoda was built in the Liao Dynasty, with the history of about 900 years. The pagoda is about 67 meters high with the bottom of 30 meter long in diameter. Look from the outside, the pagoda is a five-storey structure, but in fact there are four hidden floors inside, so that it is actually a nine-storey building. Through the wooden stairways, visitors can reach the top floor and enjoy the surrounding view.

The whole construction showed the traditional Chinese architecture style: it is special designed lightning top; each tier is designed with a unique octagon structure; each floor is supported by two circles of wooden poles (8 inside and 24 outside); among the poles there are many girders, beams, square-columns and short columns. Totally there are 54 kinds of brackets supporting the pagoda.

The Buddha statues enshrined on each outer floor are in diversified postures and different countenances with great art values and display a very high level of craftsmanship of ancient China. Frescoes and a gilded statue of Sakyamuni are displayed on the first floor, both of which could date back to the Liao Dynasty. There is a square altar on the second floor display 1 Buddha, 2 Bodhisattva and 2 attendants. The octagon altar and four Buddhas of four directions are located on the third floor. On the fourth and fifth floors there display the Buddhas statues including the Ananda, Mahakasyapa, Manjuist, Samantabhadra, Tathagata and Bodhisattvas.

The precise design, consummate structure, magnificent size and ingenious artwork make Yingxian Wooden Pagoda as the model of timber structure in the world and the highest level of the architectural art in ancient China. So during your tour to Datong, never miss the chance to visit this unique structure.