Leifeng Pagoda

The Leifeng Pagoda rises as a tall, octagonal silhouette from the summit of Sunset Hill, looking out over the southern shore of West Lake. This five-story tower is wrapped in copper and features bronze-tiled roofs that catch the evening light. It was first commissioned in nine seventy-seven by King Qian Chu of the Wuyue Kingdom to enshrine Buddhist relics and celebrate the birth of his son. For nearly a millennium, the original structure served as a landmark for the city until its weakened brick foundation finally gave way in nineteen twenty-four.