Twin Pagodas of Yongzuo Temple, Taiyuan, Shanxi

Commonly referred to as the Twin Pagoda Temple, Yongzuo Temple stands in Yingze district, Taiyuan, Shanxi province. A landmark of the city's history and culture, it is a foremost protected site at the national level. Two octagonal, 13-story brick pagodas rise side by side; seen from afar they look like twin peaks piercing the sky, earning them a place among Taiyuan's eight classic views.

The two were not built at the same time: the Wenfeng Pagoda to the southeast dates to 1599, while the Xuanwen Pagoda to the northwest was built in 1608. They stand 54.76 meters and 54.78 meters tall, and both have weathered centuries of wind and rain. The temple's beamless hall is built entirely of brick vaults, without a single beam or column — a showcase of traditional masonry skill. Pagodas reaching skyward, red walls standing quiet: the depth of Taiyuan's past and the ingenuity of Ming Dynasty brickwork meet in this one temple.

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