Historic site · ZHEJIANG
Six Harmonies Pagoda
六和塔 · Liùhé Tǎ
About
Northern Song pagoda overlooking the Qiantang River. 60m tall, 7 visible storeys (13 internal). Climbable.
The Six Harmonies Pagoda stands on Yuelun Hill at the northern bank of the Qiantang River, where the river bends west of Hangzhou. It was built in 970 CE during the Northern Song dynasty by King Qian Chu of the Wu Yue Kingdom, and its primary purpose was practical rather than devotional: the Qiantang River's tidal bore — one of the largest in the world, reaching several metres in height during spring tides — regularly caused flooding and damage to shipping in the area. The pagoda was built to, by the cosmological reasoning of the time, pacify the river spirit and thus suppress the bore. Whether this worked is not recorded. The structure also functioned as a lighthouse for river navigation.
The current pagoda is a late-Song to Ming-era reconstruction of the original. It has seven storeys visible from the exterior and thirteen internally — a construction method where each external storey contains two internal levels within the brick and timber structure. The total height is 60 metres. Visitors can climb the interior staircase to the upper levels; the views over the wide Qiantang River and the hills to the south and west are clear. The pagoda's exterior, with its distinctive curved eaves at each level and the alternating dark timber and white plaster, is considered one of the finer surviving examples of Song-style pagoda design.
The Qiantang tidal bore peaks around the 18th day of the eighth lunar month — typically mid-to-late September — when the combination of lunar tide and the funnel shape of the bay creates a wall of water moving upriver at considerable speed. Viewing spots along the river near the pagoda are occupied by large crowds on the main bore days. Outside this period, the pagoda and its river views are pleasant and relatively uncrowded. Combine with the Longjing tea villages and the China National Tea Museum to fill a half-day in the western Hangzhou hills.
How to get there
Bus from West Lake area.
When to visit
Mid-Autumn for the tidal bore (lunar 8/15–18).
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Frequently asked questions
- How much does Six Harmonies Pagoda cost to visit?
- Adult entry to Six Harmonies Pagoda is ¥30, ¥15 for children. Plus ¥10 for the climb.
- When is Six Harmonies Pagoda open?
- Six Harmonies Pagoda opening hours: 6:30am–5:30pm.
- How long do you need at Six Harmonies Pagoda?
- Allow 1–2 hours for Six Harmonies Pagoda. Add buffer time if you plan to visit at peak season or include nearby sights in the same trip.
- When is the best time to visit Six Harmonies Pagoda?
- Mid-Autumn for the tidal bore (lunar 8/15–18).
- How do you get to Six Harmonies Pagoda?
- Bus from West Lake area.
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