The restoration of the Leifeng Pagoda, one of the most famous ancient architectural structures in China, was completed on Friday in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, in eastern China.
A ceremony was held to mark the occasion by the provincial government and the municipal government of Hangzhou, a city known for its scenic West Lake, one of the major tourism attractions in east China.
Construction of the pagoda began in 972 and was completed four years later.
In 1924, the pagoda collapsed due to long-term neglect and due to damage inflicted by superstitious residents who removed bricks from the base in the hopes that they would protect their children from devils.
The pagoda's history has been recorded in a well-known Chinese legend, the White Snake.
In 1999, the local government launched the pagoda's restoration project.
The rebuilding of the pagoda signifies the restoration of one of the "Five Beauties" of West Lake, according to local tourism experts.
However, the newly-restored "Leifeng Pagoda" is completely different from the old one, from the inside out. Its structure was built with 1,400 tons of steel and 280 tons of copper.
In addition, four elevators permit visitors to climb to the top in seconds.
(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2002)
