Tree-wrapped Pagoda and Pagoda-wrapped Tree in Mangshi City, Dehong
Attractions Overview
The Pagoda Wrapped in the Tree is miraculous and unique. Its body is like an arhat standing with a stately air. A grand bodhi tree protects the top of the Tower like a huge opening umbrella. The Tree-wrapped pagoda and Tower-wrapped Tree was formerly called Tiecheng Pagoda. The pagoda is a solid tower made of bricks. It is wrapped and covered by tree roots, and is thus called Tree-wrapped pagoda and Tower-wrapped Tree. It is the earliest pagoda built by local Dai people.
Chinese Name:芒市塔包树树包塔(Mangshi Tabaoshu Shubaota)
English Name: Tree-wrapped Pagoda and Pagoda-wrapped Tree in Mangshi City, Dehong
Attraction Type: Historical Site, Buddhist Holy Land
Seasons: Winter
Recommended Visiting Time: under 1 hour
Opening Hours: All Day Long
Admission Fee: Free
Address: East Side of Middle Section of Tourism Pedestrian Street, Youyi Road, Mangshi Town(芒市镇友谊路旅游步行街中段东侧)
Why is Tree-Wrapped Pagoda and Pagoda-Wrapped Tree So Special
The Pagoda Wrapped in the Tree is miraculous and unique. Its body is like an arhat standing with a stately air. A grand bodhi tree protects the top of the Tower like a huge opening umbrella. The thickset crown reaches up to the sky like arms. The bronze-coloured trunk twists and wraps the body of the Padoda tightly. Leaves and branches reach down and water the foundation of the Pagoda like a waterfall. The tree wraps the Pagoda and the Pagoda embraces the tree. They depend on each other for existence, and therefore form a marvellous spectacle known throughout west Yunnan and southeast Asia.
Where is Tree-Wrapped Pagoda and Pagoda-Wrapped Tree-Location
It is located in East Side of Middle Section of Tourism Pedestrian Street, Youyi Road, Mangshi Town(芒市镇友谊路旅游步行街中段东侧)
How to Get to Tree-Wrapped Pagoda and Pagoda-Wrapped Tree
For it is in the downtown of Mangshi, visitors can walk or take a taxi which will cost you 5 yuan.
History of Tree-Wrapped Pagoda and Pagoda-Wrapped Tree
The 15th tusi (native chieftain) built the Jielie Stupa to remember a triumph. It is said that there was a God sprinkling a piece of seed into the stupa. After 200 years, this seed amazingly grow into a tall banyan tree. Therefore, the rare view “Tree-wrapped pagoda and Tower-wrapped Tree” comes into being. The Tree-wrapped pagoda and Tower-wrapped Tree was formerly called Tiecheng Pagoda. The pagoda is a solid tower made of bricks. It is wrapped and covered by tree roots, and is thus called Tree-wrapped pagoda and Tower-wrapped Tree. It is the earliest pagoda built by local Dai people.
Legend of Tree-Wrapped Pagoda and Pagoda-Wrapped Tree
One disciple of Sakyamuni asked him, “ How can we express our true piety for you?” Sakyamuni thought for a while, spread his gown on the ground, put his begging bowl upside down on the gown, and placed his buddhist wand on the bowl. His disciples were suddenly enlightened. Later, the gown became the square foundation of the pagoda, the bowl became the body of the pagoda and the wand, the top of the tower. This is how the Pagoda-wrapped Tree came into being.
Best Time to Go
It is warm here in winter. So winter (the dry season) is a perfect season to visit there, but Dehong’s scenery is attractive all year round.
Nearby Attractions
Menghuan Golden Pagoda
Menghuan Grand Golden Pagoda is located at Leiyarang Mountain in the southeast of Luxi (Mangshi), the capital city of Dehong Prefecture. It’s the best place to bird-eye view the town of Mangshi and those picturesque Dai villages around. Being 73 meters high, the pagoda is a three-storied octagonal but hollow one. The ground floor is the most impressive. With an area of 2,000 square meters, it’s spacious enough for nearly 2,000 pilgrims to pray at the same time. Enshrined in the hall are mainly Buddhist figures such as Sakyamuni in the east, Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) in the south, Medicine Buddha in the west, and Maitreya (the Future Buddha) in the north, etc. all of which are made from Myanmar white marble to present grandeur and magnificence.
Menghuan Silver Pagoda
he Menghuan Silver Pagoda is located on the top of Leiyarang Mountain, southeast of Mangshi, at an altitude of 1,079.6 meters.Legend has it that “Sakyamuni” lived here when he was reincarnate as a golden pheasant. After hundreds of years the Nirvana of the Sakyamuni, in order to spread the doctrines of Buddhism, his disciples “Zhaohanda” made practices in the mountain. In order to make a better environment to make practices for “Zhaohanda”, all the weeds and the thorns get out of the way, so it is called the Leiyarang Mountain, which means the place where the weeds get out of the way. Later, a pagoda was built in this mountain. It has been recognized as one of the Buddhist holy places since ancient times.
Travel Tips:
- Climate: The region enjoys a subtropical monsoonal climate without winter chills nor intense summer heat. It has clear dry and humid seasons, with good rainfall. Its annual average temperature is around 18-20℃ (64.4-68℉). Temperatures vary greatly during the day, and it can reach 25℃ (77℉) in daytime during winter.
- Tourists are not allowed to touch the statues of Buddhas to show your respect.