White Horse Pagoda
» Dunhuang, Gan Su

白马塔

White Horse Pagoda is located in White Horse Village, about 1 kilometer (0.62 mile) west of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. Believers repaired the structure in every dynasty; therefore the White Horse Pagoda keeps its original beauty and always takes the lead among the tourist attractions in Dunhuang. Taking the advantage of its geographic location White Horse Pagoda became a major stop on the Silk Road.

Legend

The white horse of an Indian Buddhist master

The White Horse Pagoda was built in Dunhuang City in 386. Legend has it that the pagoda was built in memory of a white horse. In North Liang period of the South and the North Dynasties (420 - 577), an Indian Buddhist master called Jumoloce riding a white horse with some scriptures came along the Silk Road to China to spread Buddhism. When he arrived in Dunhuang, his horse became ill and died. Jumoloce buried the horse in Buddhist custom. Then he went on his journey eastward to preach and spread the Buddhism. Since that time, Buddhism became popular in Dunhuang. Local people later built a pagoda called the White Horse Pagoda near where Jumoloce buried his horse to commemorate this Buddhist Master.

The white horse of Master Tang Xuanzang

There is also another story telling about the origin of the pagoda which found lesser favorable by many people. According to the novel "Journey to the West," the main character in the novel, Master Tang Xuanzang and three of his disciples were on their way to West Regions for scriptures of Buddhism had once stopped here. They encountered attacks by many monsters, but three disciples defeated all monsters. During the fights, the white horse sacrificed its life to save Master Tang Xuanzang. Later local people built the White Horse Pagoda to memorize them for their bravery.

The credible statement

In fact, in the long history of Buddhism, along the Silk Road believers had built many temples and caves, in order to pay their respect to those monks who had dedicated their life to the spreading of the Buddhism. The White Horse Pagoda is just one of these buildings and tourists who want to cover the ancient Silk Road will not want to miss the opportunity to visit it.

Appreciate the pagoda

The nine-storey pagoda is 12 meters high with a diameter of 7 meters. It was made of adobes with a column inside and coated on the outside with mud and lime. Every storey has its own feature and charm. The brick foundation is octagonal with a 3-meter wide face each.

Every storey has its own feature and charm. The 2-4th stories were shaped with overlapping refraction angles. The 1-5th stories were ringed with a line of papilla spikes. The 6th story resembles an upside-down basin, and the 7th, a Buddhist wheel, while the 8th is sexangular with a wind bell hanging from each angle. The top story is a spire resembling a string of beads. The Pagoda on the whole is of the lama pagoda style of the Ming Dynasty.

What to savor

Like most cuisines in west China, the food here is spicy. Locals like to serve guests a special wheat noodle called "saozi mian" - it is very tasty. "Dunhuang huangmian" is another delectable noodle dish; the thin long noodle are added to a broth then topped with vegetables. The Dunhuang banquets are delivers great food and rousing entertainment. The weather here is also good for growing fruit, plump grapes, plums and juicy melons abound.

Attractions around » Dunhuang, Gan Su

Natural Scene

Natural Scene

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Taking the advantage of its geographic location White Horse Pagoda has become one of the major tourist magnets on the Silk Road. The pagoda on the whole is of the lama pagoda style of the Ming Dynasty. Every storey has its own feature and charm.



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