Hangzhou · Visitor Guide
Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔, Léifēng Tǎ)
A five-story octagonal pagoda on West Lake's south shore, rebuilt in 2002 over the foundations of a 975 AD original that collapsed in 1924. It is the viewpoint behind 'Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow,' one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake and part of the lake's 2011 UNESCO inscription, and it anchors the Legend of the White Snake. Budget ¥40 and 1.5–2 hours, and go near sunset.
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Quick Answer
Is Leifeng Pagoda worth visiting?
Five-story octagonal pagoda (71.679 m, rebuilt 2002) on West Lake's south shore — the viewpoint behind the 'Evening Glow' scene and the Legend of the White Snake. ¥40, allow 1.5–2 hours, and go an hour before sunset for the panorama that earns its name.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥40 (as of 2026); typically half-price for students/seniors with ID, free for children under 1.2 m |
|---|---|
| Hours | 08:00–20:30 mid-Mar through Oct (last entry ~19:30); 08:00–17:30 Nov–mid-Mar (seasonal — confirm on site) |
| Recommended duration | 1.5–2 hours (45–60 min if you skip the queue and move briskly) |
| Best time to visit | About an hour before sunset year-round; spring (Mar–Apr) and autumn (Oct–Nov) for clear skies |
| How to get there | Metro Line 1 to Ding'an Road (定安路), ~15-min walk; buses 4, 315, 504, 808 stop at Leifeng Pagoda/Jingci Temple; DiDi ~¥15–20 from the east lake shore |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Built | Original 975 AD (Wuyue Kingdom); rebuilt and reopened 2002 |
| Height | 71.679 m, 5 stories, octagonal steel-and-copper |
| Ticket | ¥40 (as of 2026) |
| UNESCO | Part of West Lake Cultural Landscape, inscribed 2011 |
| Collapsed | 25 September 1924; rebuilt on the same foundations |
| Best time | ~1 hr before sunset (the 'Evening Glow' scene) |
What to expect
A five-story octagonal pagoda crowns Leifeng Hill on the south shore of West Lake, rebuilt in steel and copper in 2002 over the brick foundations of a 975 AD original. You reach the entrance by escalator, then ride a glass-walled elevator up five floors of Buddhist art and bronze reliefs to a 71.679 m viewing platform. The top deck delivers the definitive West Lake panorama — the one named 'Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow,' one of the Ten Scenes codified under the Southern Song. Plan on 1.5–2 hours including the queue.
King Qian Chu of the Wuyue Kingdom built the original in 975 AD — first called Huangfei Pagoda after Consort Huang — to enshrine Buddhist relics (some records give 977 AD). It decayed for centuries; locals stripped its bricks, believing they warded off evil and aided fertility, until it collapsed on 25 September 1924. A 2001 excavation of the underground palace recovered a silver reliquary said to contain sarira of the Buddha. The pagoda also anchors the Legend of the White Snake: the monk Fa Hai imprisons the snake spirit Bai Suzhen beneath it, which is why its 1924 collapse was popularly read as her liberation. It sits within the West Lake Cultural Landscape, inscribed by UNESCO in 2011.
Here is the nuance most travel content glosses over: the tower you climb is not ancient. It is a modern rebuild with escalators, an elevator, and a copper roof — closer to a viewing platform with a museum inside than a Song-era monument. The genuinely old material is the 975 AD brick foundation preserved under a glass floor at the base, and that is what historians come for. Skip the midday rush; arrive about an hour before sunset, when the scene finally earns its name and the haze that blurs the lake at noon usually clears. Buy the ¥40 ticket online (real-name, bring your passport) to dodge the queue, and pair the visit with next-door Jingci Temple, whose 'Evening Bell at Nanping' is another of the Ten Scenes.
How to get there
By metro: Hangzhou Metro Line 1 to Ding'an Road (定安路), then walk about 1.3 km (15 min) southwest along Nanshan Road to the entrance. Longxiangqiao (龙翔桥, also Line 1) is about 2 km around the south shore and works better if you are combining the visit with the east-side lake walk. The project's own Hangzhou guide lists a closer Line 4 stop, but metro lines near the lake change often — check Amap (高德地图) for the nearest open station on your travel date. By bus (most direct): routes 4, 315, 504, and 808 stop at Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔) or the adjacent Jingci Temple (净慈寺); get off at Jingcisi and the entrance is a 2-minute walk. By DiDi or taxi: about ¥15–20 and 10 minutes from the Hubin / West Lake east shore; ¥40–55 and 25–35 minutes from Hangzhou East Railway Station (杭州东站). Set the destination as 雷峰塔景区 (Leifeng Pagoda Scenic Area). Bus numbers shift periodically — confirm live in Amap or Alipay before you go.
Best photo spots
- Top-floor (5th) observation deck facing north over West Lake at sunset — the canonical 'Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow' shot.
- From Su Causeway or the north shore looking south across the water at the pagoda, framing the tower against the lake and hills.
- The glass-floor section at the base, looking down at the preserved 975 AD brick foundations and the underground-palace ruin site.
- Looking up at the bronze-tiled spire from the entrance plaza, and the interior bronze reliefs telling the Legend of the White Snake.
Tips
- Arrive about an hour before sunset — the named scene is literally an evening-glow view, and midday haze often washes out the lake panorama. Most guidebooks send people up at noon; that is the wrong call.
- Buy the ¥40 ticket in advance on the official WeChat mini-program or Alipay (real-name — bring your passport) to skip the entrance queue, which gets long on weekends and holidays.
- Do not skip the glass floor at the base: the 975 AD foundation ruins and the 2001 underground-palace relic site underneath are the most historically important parts. Most visitors rush past them to the elevator.
- Use the escalator to reach the entrance level and the internal elevator for the climb if you need it, but expect elevator lines on busy days — the stairs are faster and pass the bronze White Snake reliefs.
- Pair it with next-door Jingci Temple (净慈寺) for the 'Evening Bell at Nanping' scene, and avoid National Day (Oct 1–7) and spring weekends, when the south shore turns into a slow-moving crowd.
Scams to avoid
- Taxi or DiDi drivers from the railway stations sometimes claim Leifeng Pagoda is 'closed today' and divert you to a commission tea house or silk shop — a well-known Hangzhou scam. Ignore it; the site is open daily.
- Touts near the entrance sell 'discount' or 'VIP skip-the-line' tickets. Buy only at the official counter or via the official WeChat/Alipay channels.
- 'Monks' around Jingci Temple and the pagoda approach offer blessings or press overpriced incense and amulets on you. A polite refusal and walking on is the standard response.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Leifeng Pagoda?
¥40 per adult (as of 2026), with half-price tickets typically available for students and seniors on presentation of ID, and free entry for children under 1.2 m. Tickets are real-name — bring your passport.
What are the opening hours?
Roughly 08:00–20:30 in the extended summer season (mid-Mar through Oct, last entry about 19:30) and 08:00–17:30 in winter (Nov–mid-Mar). Hours shift seasonally to catch the sunset view, so confirm on the official site before you go.
How tall is the pagoda and how many stories does it have?
The 2002 rebuild is 71.679 m tall with five visible stories, octagonal in plan, built of steel and copper with a bronze-tiled spire.
Is the original ancient pagoda still standing?
No. The 975 AD original collapsed on 25 September 1924 after centuries of decay and brick-looting. Only the brick foundations survive, visible through a glass floor under the modern tower.
Is there an elevator?
Yes. The 2002 rebuild has both an escalator to the entrance level and an internal glass-walled elevator to the upper floors — a controversial modern feature, but useful for the ~72 m climb and for visitors with limited mobility.
How long should I plan to spend?
About 1.5–2 hours including the queue, or 45–60 minutes if you skip the line and move briskly. Aim to be on the top deck near sunset.
How do I get there by metro?
Metro Line 1 to Ding'an Road (定安路), then about a 1.3 km / 15-minute walk southwest to the entrance. Buses 4, 315, 504, and 808 stop closer, at Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔) or Jingci Temple (净慈寺).
What is the connection to the Legend of the White Snake?
In the folk tale, the monk Fa Hai imprisons the white snake spirit Bai Suzhen beneath Leifeng Pagoda. The pagoda's 1924 collapse was popularly read as her liberation, which is why the site is famous far beyond its scenery.
Is it part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. Leifeng Pagoda sits within the West Lake Cultural Landscape, inscribed by UNESCO in 2011 — specifically the 'Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow' (雷峰夕照) vista, one of the Ten Scenes of West Lake.
When is the best time of day to visit?
Late afternoon, arriving about an hour before sunset. The named scene 'Leifeng Xizhao' (Evening Glow) is literally a sunset view; midday haze often washes out the lake panorama.
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