Leifeng Pagoda

About

Leifeng Pagoda rises on Sunset Hill above the southern shore of West Lake, occupying the site of a tower first built in the tenth century by the Wuyue king Qian Chu. The original brick-and-timber structure gradually deteriorated and collapsed in 1924 after centuries of damage and removal of bricks believed to possess protective power. The present pagoda, completed in 2002, shelters the surviving ancient brick foundation beneath a modern steel and copper structure whose tiered silhouette restores the historic vertical landmark to the lake basin. The tower is inseparable from the Legend of the White Snake, in which the heroine Bai Suzhen is imprisoned beneath Leifeng Pagoda, and from the traditional West Lake scene Leifeng Pagoda in Evening Glow. Archaeological finds from the foundation, including Buddhist relic containers and inscribed objects, confirm its religious and royal significance beyond folklore. Interior displays interpret the earlier tower and the legend through carvings and reconstructed imagery, while the exterior profile balances Baochu Pagoda across the water. Leifeng therefore combines authentic buried remains, modern reconstruction and one of China’s most influential narrative traditions.

Highlights

• Panoramic West Lake views
• Legend of Lady White Snake
• Modern reconstruction over ruins
• Golden sunset pagoda scenery

Amenities

Why go

• Visit Leifeng Pagoda to experience panoramic west lake views.
• Spend time on legend of lady white snake rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.
• The experience is rounded out by modern reconstruction over ruins.

Know before you go

• Allow about 90m on site, excluding transfers and queues.
• Confirm current opening hours, ticket rules, temporary closures, and entry restrictions before departure.
• Carry the local-language name and address for navigation, taxi, or entrance checks.

Tips

• Arrive before sunset to allow time for access and changing light conditions.
• Group the stop with nearby places to reduce backtracking and keep a realistic transfer buffer.
• Carry water, weather protection, and the local-language place name when conditions require them.