Leifeng Pagoda, formerly known as Huangfei Pagoda, is also known as Xiguan Brick Pagoda. The ancients more often called it "Huangfei Pagoda". It was built by Qian Chu, King of Wu Yue, in 977, the second year of Taiping and Xingguo in the Northern Song Dynasty. There is a well-shaped underground palace at the bottom of the tower foundation. Dragon Lotus has dozens of precious Buddhist cultural relics and exquisite Buddha statues, such as Ashoka Tower and Sakyamuni Buddha. Everything comes from the heart, secret, and the whole body is printed with "Dalagni Jing > Jing Juan"
Compared with other ancient pagodas, Leifeng Pagoda has more bad luck. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was still a magnificent gesture of "thousands of feet floating in the sky, leaning against the air". In the Ming dynasty, it was greatly damaged. Jiajing period (1522- 1566). The enemy invaded Hangzhou and set fire to the eaves, flat seats, railings and top of Leifeng Tower, leaving only the brick tower body. In an ancient painting of the West Lake during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty, Leifeng Tower was destroyed by the top of the tower, and the old tree was crumbling. The poet also used the phrase "Leifeng Tower is in purple smoke, like a drunkard's sake is not wine".
In the second year of Xuanhe in the Northern Song Dynasty (1 120), Leifeng Pagoda was seriously damaged by the war. It was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty of the Southern Song Dynasty (1 195- 1200). Buildings and furnishings reproduce brilliance, especially the scenery that reflects the sunset at dusk. It was named "Leifeng West Lake Map"). It is listed in the Ten Scenes of West Lake. After the Southern Song Dynasty, Leifeng Sunset has been one of the most popular scenic spots in the West Lake. During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty (1522- 1566), the Japanese invaders invaded the southeast coast and besieged Hangzhou. After the disaster, the Leifeng Tower was set on fire. Only the brick tower of the ancient pagoda is left. It is red, desolate and solemn.
In the early Qing Dynasty, Leifeng Pagoda became one of the ten scenic spots in the West Lake because of the incomplete beauty of the red brick pagoda and its close relationship with the myths and legends of The Legend of the White Snake. Even Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong visited and tasted the topic many times. [Leifeng Sunset] is well-known, praising the scene of Leifeng Sunset like this: [The solitary tower is independent. The bricks are all red. The vines are pulling. It's green and lovely. The sun shines in the west. The pavilion is golden. It reflects the mountain light. If the golden mirror is opened first, fire beads will be attached. Although it is not too much to waste the sunset in Chicheng. "
From the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic of China, bricks of Leifeng Tower were repeatedly stolen and dug. On September 25th, 0924, the brick tower of Leifeng Tower, which had been in disrepair for a long time, finally collapsed. Everything was born of heart and secret, and the Dalagni Sutra was printed all over the body, but the "Leifeng Sunset" scenic spot has since existed in name only. The collapse of Leifeng Tower has aroused the concern and discussion of the whole society. People from all walks of life have been looking forward to rebuilding this famous ancient tower.
At the end of 1999, the people's governments of Zhejiang and Hangzhou made a solemn decision: comply with the people's wishes, follow the concept of sustainable development, implement the principle of cultural relics protection, excavate the underground palace of Leifeng Pagoda, build the site protection facilities of Leifeng Pagoda, and extend the internal functions and appearance of the site protection facilities. The new Leifeng Pagoda was built according to its original shape, volume and style. The reconstruction project of Leifeng Tower was completed in June 2000.