Miaodao Temple Twin Pagodas in Linyi, Yuncheng | Ancient Pagodas of the Song Dynasty

|Ancient pagodas of the Song Dynasty. Before the Northern Song Dynasty, Miaodao Temple was called "Yongfu Temple." During the Song Dynasty, it was called "Miaodao Temple." During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed "Yanta Temple," and later "Shuangta Temple." The temple's Buddhist halls were magnificent throughout the ages, and it was home to thousands of monks, making it a famous temple in the area. The temple has been destroyed, but the east and west pagodas remain. According to the inscription on the stele unearthed from the underground palace of the west pagoda, "The Underground Palace of the Twin Pagodas of Miaodao Temple in Yishi County, Hezhong Prefecture, Great Song Dynasty," the west pagoda was built in the second year of the Xining period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1069). It faces east, is made of brick and wood, and was originally a square nine-story pagoda. Six stories remain, with a height of 21.98 meters. The east pagoda faces west, is made of brick, and has seven stories. It is 23.07 meters tall, with a base length of 4.95 meters. Inside the pagoda is a stele from the 14th year of the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1535) and a stone tablet from the 23rd year of the Wanli period (1595). Address: East of Xingjiaofang Village, Yishi Town, Linyi County, Yuncheng, Shanxi Province Transportation: Take bus 103, Linyi 7, or Linyi 11 to Shuangta Square Station.