THREE PAGODS

The symbol of the city of Dali, these three pagodas are located at the foot of the mountain Cangshan on the road leading to Erhai Lake. The former Yunnan structures have already resisted several earthquakes, proof of a brilliant lost civilization - even though one of the three now has a slight impact since the earthquake in 1997. These three towers to the strange architecture, which seems more Hindu than Chinese, are recognizable by far. They were erected on the location of the former Chongsheng temple, which was the temple of royal families during the period of the Kingdom of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdom.

The construction of the main pagoda - the pagoda of the Thousand Eveils - was undertaken in 836, during the Fengyou period of the kingdom of Nanzhao, to end forty years later. At that time, there were 11,400 bronze statues of the Buddha. The main pagoda presents itself as a tower of 16 floors of 69 m high. His square plan is characteristic of the Tang dynasty style, when Buddhism from India was at its peak. In the middle of the façade of each floor is a niche where a statue of Buddha's white marble is installed.

During the period of Dali Kingdom, two other pagodas of ten stories were constructed, one slightly north of the main, and the other to the south, to form the three points of a triangle. These last two pagodas measure 42 m high. Each floor is carved with niches, Buddhas and lotus flowers. At the time of restoration work in 1978-1980, nearly 700 relics were found under pagodas and within summits. These are now exhibited in part in the temple museum located on the site.