East and West Pagodas
东寺塔 / 西寺塔
Two multi-eave brick pagodas built in the Nanzhao period, facing each other across a street for more than a thousand years. They are Kunming's oldest surviving above-ground structures.
The East Pagoda (Changle Temple Pagoda) and the West Pagoda (Huiguang Temple Pagoda) were built in the late Nanzhao period, around the 9th century. Both are square, 13-story, multi-eave brick pagodas. The top of the East Pagoda is topped with four bronze golden roosters, a historic symbol of Kunming. The East Pagoda now stands in a small park beside Shulin Street, and the West Pagoda is on Dongsi Street. The two pagodas are about 500 meters apart in an old residential neighborhood, so you can walk between them and sample traditional Kunming snacks along the way. Admission is free. It's about a 10-minute walk from the Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Archways.
Opening hours
All day (grounds about 08:00–20:00)
Nearby sights
- Jinma & Biji Archways / Nanping Street
- Nanqiang Street
- Jingxing Flower and Bird Market
- Kunming Old Street (Wenming Street)
- Zhenqing Taoist Temple
- Kunming City Museum
- Chuangku Art Zone (Loft Kunming)
- Green Lake Park (Cuihu)
Places to eat nearby
- Yunping Fengweiyuan (Huguo Road)
- Jianxinyuan (Baoshan Street)
- Tiepeng Xiaoguo Mixian (Tangzixiang Main Branch)
- Zhao Laoguan Handmade Juanfen (Guanghua Street)
- Eight Wild Mushrooms Yunnan Wild Mushroom Hotpot (Kunming Railway Station Branch)
- Fuzhaolou Steam Pot Chicken (Victory Hall National Southwest Associated University Theme Restaurant)