Chaoyang: Pagodas, History and Nature

Chaoyang combines a rich historical heritage with cultural sites and nearby landscapes. Its pagodas, museums and relics from different eras offer varied historical perspectives, while nature and scenery shape the landscape around Phoenix Mountain and the Daling River. When planning your trip, it is useful to distinguish between these areas: some attractions are in the associated municipality, while others are nearby or within the wider travel region.

Pagodas and Historical Traces

The North Pagoda of Chaoyang stands in the associated municipality. This 42.6-meter-high brick pagoda has thirteen stories. Closely spaced eaves and brick reliefs define its main structure. It was built around 485 AD on the grounds of the former palace of Longcheng from the Sanyan period. Its architecture makes the pagoda a vivid point of reference for the region’s architectural history.

The South Pagoda of Chaoyang is located near the destination. This square, hollow brick pagoda dates from the Liao dynasty, faces south and has thirteen closely spaced stories with overhanging roofs. It is recognized as a provincially protected cultural relic. Its history extends beyond the structure itself: in October 2004, a tomb chamber from the Liao dynasty was discovered nearby during underground utility work. It contained Buddhist relics and other Buddhist artifacts.

The Youshun Temple is also located nearby. Construction began in 1699, and it was completed eight years later. On May 25, 2006, it was included in the sixth group of nationally significant cultural relics of China as a structure from the Qing dynasty. The North and South Pagodas represent different architectural forms; the temple adds a structure from a later era to this historical perspective.

Old Town, Museums and Cultural Sites

Chaoyang Old Town is located in the central area of Shuangta District, within the associated municipality. It is a provincially recognized historical and cultural district. Its origins are dated to the Former Yan period, during the Eastern Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms period. The protected core area covers 28.89 hectares. This makes the old town a distinct focal point alongside the individual pagodas.

Murong Street, formerly known as Shuangta Ancient Street, connects the South and North Pagodas with Youshun Temple, Guandi Temple and the ruins of Yandu’s city wall. It is a cultural and tourism center in Chaoyang, with exhibitions, exchange and sales among its stated functions. The street is therefore more than just a name when considering the area’s cultural sites: it connects several named attractions.

The Chaoyang North Pagoda Museum was founded in December 1990. Its current building was rebuilt in 2003 and completed in 2006; it is designed in the style of the Han and Tang periods. The permanent exhibition “Ancient Pagodas Through the Ages” is based on more than 200 selected finds from the North Pagoda and nearby sites. It covers the origins, forms, development and historical significance of Chinese pagodas. The Chaoyang Museum displays, among other things, jade objects from the Hongshan culture, ceremonial bronze vessels from the Shang and Zhou periods, horse tack and hair ornaments from the Sanyan period, Tang sancai, Liao-Khitan ceramics, and paintings from the Ming and Qing periods. Together, the collections offer insights into different materials and eras.

Nature and Scenery Nearby

Phoenix Mountain Tourist Area lies within the associated municipality, east of Chaoyang’s urban area and adjacent to its central district. It covers 67.84 square kilometers and is a National Forest Park and an AAAA-rated scenic area. Natural and cultural history meet here: the area includes 27 archaeological sites from different periods, including sites from the Hongshan and Xiajiadian cultures, as well as 18 cultural relic attractions. Fengguan offers a sweeping view of the landscape.

Plant diversity is also part of the scenery. A total of 790 plant species have been recorded in the tourist area: 763 angiosperms, twelve gymnosperms and 15 fern species. Forest covers 85 percent of the area.

Nearby, the upgraded urban stretch of the Daling River presents a different landscape. Long embankments, dense vegetation, winding paths, wide expanses of water and numerous seagulls shape the scene. This stretch of the river provides a scenic contrast to the pagodas and cultural sites, with water and riverside vegetation taking center stage.

Getting There in the Wider Travel Region

Shuangta District is an important point of reference for regional travel. The airport, high-speed rail and national and provincial highways connect the region with surrounding areas. Direct flights connect it with Shanghai. By high-speed train, the journey takes 1.5 hours to Shenyang, two hours to Dalian and two hours to Beijing. The district is a transport hub between China’s heartland, the northeast and Inner Mongolia. These details refer to the wider travel region, not to individual attractions. If you are continuing your journey by train, check the current timetable before departure.

Discover more destinations: Shenyang, Tianjin, Fushun, Anshan, Benxi, Fuxin, Huludao, Dandong.

See the wider travel overview: Liaoning.