White Pagoda Mountain (Baitashan) in Lanzhou

Attractions Overview: White Pagoda Mountain
Attraction Type: Mountain
Chinese Name:白塔山
English Name:White Pagoda Mountain, Baitashan
Best Time to Visit: All Year Round
Recommended Visiting Time: 2 Hours
Open Hours: 6:00a.m.-6:00p.m.
Admission Fee: Free
Address in English: Beibinhe Middle Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province.
Address in Chinese:兰州市北滨河中路

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Why is White Pagoda Mountain So Special?

White Pagoda Mountain has long been a natural barrier of Lanzhou, and it neighbors the Yellow River with Jincheng Pass and Yudie Pass at its feet, and it was an important stronghold in ancient times. A park (White Pagoda Mountain Park) has been opened on the top of the mountain, where the old White Pagoda still stands. The White Pagoda Mountain is covered with old trees now, where a winding path leads to quiet seclusion.

Where is White Pagoda Mountain?

Located in the north of Lanzhou City, the White Pagoda Park owes its name to the amazing White Pagoda within it. The address of White Pagoda Mountain is Beibinhe Middle Road, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, and its Chinese address is: 兰州市北滨河中路.

How to Get There?

Travel with China Dragon Tours (top recommended)

If you want to get rid of hustle of transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to White Pagoda Mountain with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on travel.

Independent Travel

For independent travelers you can

Take Bus 20, 35, 53, 108, 131 or Jincheng Sightseeing Bus to Baitashan Gongyuan (White Pagoda Park).

What to See in White Pagoda Mountain?

White Pagoda

The White Pagoda Mountain is famous for its White Pagoda Temple, and the White Pagoda stands in the temple. The White Pagoda was initially built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), rebuilt by Lou Yongcheng in the Jingtai Period (1450-1456) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and enlarged by Chuo Qi (the governor of Lanzhou) in the 54th year (1715) of Emperor Kangxi’s reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The 17-meters (56-feet) tall octahedral White Pagoda has seven stories with a green spire on the top, and its sides are decorated with Buddha patterns.

Three Treasure of White Pagoda Mountain

Elephant Leather Drum, bronze bells, the Chinese redbud tree. It’s a pity that Chinese redbud tree withered due to the drying up of water, so there are left only the relic of Indian monk Elephant Leather Drum and bronze bells made in 57th years of Kangxi Period (1718). White Pagoda Mountain Park built around the mountain with an elevation of 1700 meters, opened in 1958 as a park. It passes across the Yellow River railway bridge, climbs up along the mountain. And there are square mansion, palace courts, corridors, and emerald green trees which is very spectacular.

History of the White Pagoda Mountain

Legend has it that the White Pagoda was built in honor of a well-known Tibetan Lama who died of an illness in Lanzhou when on his way to Mongolia as representative of the leader of Sakyapa in order to meet Genghis Khan, founder of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). Unfortunately, the original pagoda later toppled down. The present White Pagoda was constructed by an official in the reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and later extended by an imperial inspector in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

In 1958, White Pagoda Park was opened to the public. Covering an area of 8,000 square meters（about two acres), the White Pagoda Park has three stately and magnificent ancient architectural complexes within it. These harmonize with the surrounding natural landscape and the White Pagoda Mountain beyond.

Useful Travel Tips:

You can appreciate the beautiful scenery of Yellow River while visiting the White Pagoda Mountain.
Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothes and shoes if you are going to hiking.