Hangzhou · Visitor Guide
Six Harmonies Pagoda (六和塔, Liùhé Tǎ)
Six Harmonies Pagoda (六和塔) is a 970 AD Buddhist pagoda rebuilt in 1156, sitting on Yuelun Hill just south of West Lake. It was built to calm the Qiantang River tidal bore and is one of China's best-preserved large pagodas, part of the 2011 UNESCO West Lake listing. Most of the timber you see is a 1899 Qing restoration layered over a Southern Song brick core.
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Quick Answer
Is Six Harmonies Pagoda worth visiting?
A 60-meter Song-era pagoda on Yuelun Hill above the Qiantang River — 7 interior floors hiding behind 13 exterior eaves, climbable in about 90 minutes for a river-and-bridge view.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥30 combined (pagoda entry + climb) (as of 2026) (verify) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 06:30–17:00, last entry around 16:30 (verify) |
| Recommended duration | 1–2 hours (add 30 min for the Ancient Pagoda Park) |
| Best time to visit | Early morning, year-round. For the Qiantang tidal bore, mid-September to early October (peak on the 18th day of the 8th lunar month). |
| How to get there | Bus 4, 318, or 354 to 六和塔 (Liuhe Ta) stop; no metro at the gate (nearest station verify). DiDi ~¥25–35 from West Lake. |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Built | 970 AD (Wuyue kingdom) |
| Current brick core | 1156 (Southern Song) |
| Height | ≈60 m (59.89 m) |
| Layout | Octagonal; 13 exterior eaves, 7 interior floors |
| Eaves restored | 1899 (Qing dynasty) |
| UNESCO | 2011 — West Lake Cultural Landscape |
What to expect
Six Harmonies Pagoda stands on Yuelun Hill above the Qiantang River, roughly 5 km south of West Lake. From the path it reads as a 13-story tower. Step inside and there are only 7 floors — the extra eaves are pure decoration. A steep wooden staircase climbs about 200 steps to a top gallery that frames the 1937 Qiantang River Bridge and the tidal flats beyond. The grounds also hold a small 'Ancient Pagoda Park' with miniature replicas of famous Chinese pagodas.
King Qian Hongchu of Wuyue ordered it built in 970 AD, partly as a Buddhist monument and partly to quiet the Qiantang tidal bore, one of the world's largest. War wrecked the original. The brick core still standing is a 1156 Southern Song rebuild, and the wooden eaves you actually photograph date to a 1899 Qing restoration funded by a local merchant. Most guidebooks call this a Song masterpiece, but what you see is largely 19th-century timber over 12th-century brick. It joined the West Lake Cultural Landscape UNESCO listing in 2011.
Go early. Tour buses land after 10 a.m., and the single-file staircase turns into a bottleneck. The climb is real work in dim light. Most people pair it with Nine Creeks (九溪) or the Longjing tea area, both a short ride south. Skip the tea the driver recommends on the way back — that stop is a commission sales room, not a pagoda tradition.
How to get there
By bus (best option): routes 4, 318, and 354 stop at 六和塔 (Liuhe Ta) station, right at the base; tourist line Y5 also serves it. By metro: no station sits at the gate — the nearest is roughly 2 km away, so take the metro south and transfer to bus 4 or 354 (verify the closest station on a current Hangzhou metro map, since lines keep expanding). By DiDi/taxi: about ¥25–35 and 15–20 minutes from West Lake / Hubin; about ¥50–70 and 25–35 minutes from Hangzhou East Railway Station. Set the destination as 六和塔 (Liuhe Ta, Yuelun Hill).
Best photo spots
- Top gallery window framing the 1937 Qiantang River Bridge — the classic postcard shot.
- Looking up the stone approach steps at the 13 stacked eaves against the sky.
- Riverbank viewing platform where pagoda and bridge sit in the same frame.
- Interior spiral staircase in low light (raise ISO; flash is not allowed).
Tips
- Arrive before 9 a.m. Tour coaches pull in after 10, and the one-way staircase can stall 20+ minutes at peak.
- Count the eaves from outside (13), then the floors inside (7) — the mismatch is the pagoda's whole architectural joke.
- Refuse the 'free tea tasting' your DiDi driver suggests after the visit; it ends in a hard sell for overpriced Longjing.
- Bring ¥20–50 cash. The main window takes Alipay/WeChat, but the small Ancient Pagoda Park kiosk sometimes does not.
- Pair it with Nine Creeks (九溪十八涧), a 10-minute bus 4/354 ride away, for a half-day loop south of the lake.
Scams to avoid
- DiDi/taxi drivers claiming the pagoda is 'closed for renovation' and rerouting you to a Longjing tea shop — a well-known Hangzhou commission-tea scam. Insist on the meter and the original destination.
- Touts at the bus stop selling 'discount combo tickets'; buy only at the official window inside the gate.
- Self-styled 'monks' near the entrance offering blessings or amulets for a donation — ignore them.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the ticket?
¥30 combined for entry plus the climb (as of 2026) (verify).
What are the opening hours?
06:30–17:00, last entry around 16:30 (verify).
How tall is Six Harmonies Pagoda?
About 60 m — 59.89 m (roughly 196.5 ft).
When was it built?
Originally 970 AD under the Wuyue kingdom; the standing brick core is a 1156 Southern Song rebuild.
Why does it look like 13 stories but only has 7 floors?
The exterior has 13 eaves (architectural ornament), while the interior has 7 climbable levels — a Song-dynasty design trick.
Is it part of a UNESCO site?
Yes — the West Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, inscribed in 2011.
Can you climb to the top?
Yes, via a steep internal wooden staircase (about 200 steps); the top gallery overlooks the Qiantang River and its 1937 bridge.
How do I get there without a car?
Buses 4, 318, and 354 run to the 六和塔 (Liuhe Ta) stop at the base; tourist line Y5 also serves it. No metro sits at the gate — check the nearest station on a current map (verify).
How long should I plan for the visit?
1 to 2 hours; longer if you walk the Ancient Pagoda Park of mini replicas.
When is the Qiantang tidal bore best seen from here?
Peak around the 18th day of the 8th lunar month, which falls in mid-September to early October.
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