Over 1,700 years ago, during the Three Kingdoms period, Buddhism finally began to take root in China. It was at this time that Sun Quan ruled the kingdom of Wu, and he is responsible for building one of China’s oldest temples. Most people believe that Sun Quan was no Buddhist himself and that, in fact, the temple was built for his wet nurse. Back then, the temple was even taller. Of course, everybody says that people were a lot shorter back then, so who knows? Nevertheless, the Kingdom of Wu was conquered and the pagoda burned to the ground.
What we now call the North Temple Pagoda dates back over seven hundred years and was built by Dayuan, a monk of the Southern Song Dynasty. This brick and stone eight-sided pagoda still holds claim to the title of highest pagoda south of the Yangtze. At 249 feet, you’re going to want to bring your walking shoes. We lost count of how many steps up, but we can assure you that it’s very steep. The view from the top is nothing to dismiss. It’s the best view in the city. On a good day, you can see Tiger Hill Pagoda, the New District, the SIP and the crowded alleys and canals of downtown, but there is also a lot to see below. The North Temple is still in use, and monks can be seen praying and meditating inside on a daily basis. In the courtyards of the pagoda, you’ll find an idyllic garden that’s almost always deserted. There is also a café where you can get a coffee, a bite to eat, and catch some of the sun that comes our way before it’s simply too hot to sit outside.
 "North Temple Pagoda")
 "North Temple Pagoda")
 "North Temple Pagoda")
H: o