Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Small statues of Buddha line the path to the top of the mountain.
Mitaki-dera
A view of the Sandiaoling bike tunnel.
Sandiaoling Bike Tunnel
The old ticket house at League Park now houses the Baseball Heritage Museum.
League Park
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Passersby stop to admire the punny offerings of Brooklyn’s only dinosaur bodega.
We Visited the Dino Bodega in (Jurassic) Park Slope
1 day ago
Native Americans have a longstanding, rich, and vibrant culture in Wyoming.
Wyoming’s Sacred Landscapes: A Journey Through Native American History
1 day ago
This strawberry cucumber sorbet tastes like early summer in a scoop.
Salt & Straw Wants You to Create Your Own Ice Cream Flavors
3 days ago
Catch a glimpse of some of the many wildflowers Crested Butte is known for.
Rodeos, Star Parties, and Festivals: Your Guide to Colorado’s Magical Summer Events
4 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All China Suzhou Ruiguang Tower
AO Edited

Ruiguang Tower

The earliest pagoda built in the beautiful Panmen Scenic Area of Suzhou.

Suzhou, China

Added By
katielou106
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Ruiguang Tower  
Ruiguang Tower  
Ruiguang Tower  
Ruigung Pagoda circa 1900   https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ru...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Ruiguang Pagoda, also known as the Auspicious Lustre Pagoda, is the earliest pagoda built in what is now known as the Panmen Scenic Area of Suzhou.

The pagoda was built in 247 CE during the reign of King Chiwu Sun Quan in honor of his mother. At the time of construction, the pagoda had 13 floors. During the succeeding dynasties, the pagoda was destroyed and rebuilt many times.

It was reconstructed during the Song Dynasty, this time at a slightly reduced height and in an octagonal shape still visible today. The Ruiguang Pagoda is composed of brick with wooden platforms and has simple Buddhist carvings on its base.

The structure is located in Suzhou and is set in a beautiful garden complete with stately pavilions and a pond home to giant koi fish. The surrounding park is known for the "three landmarks of Pan Gate," of which the Ruiguang Pagoda is one. The others are the Wu Gate Bridge, at the time the highest bridge in Suzhou, and Pan Gate.

Visitors who stay in the Pan Pacific Hotel receive early access to the garden before the rest of the city. 

Related Tags

Architecture Design Pagodas

Community Contributors

Added By

katielou106

Edited By

jonathancarey

  • jonathancarey

Published

March 31, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Ruiguang Tower
49 East St
Suzhou
China
31.289127, 120.61857
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Map of Pingjiang

Suzhou, China

miles away

Luohanyuan Shuangta (Twin Pagodas)

Suzhou, China

miles away

The Seven Cats of Shantang Street

Suzhou, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Suzhou

Suzhou

China

Places 8

Nearby Places

Map of Pingjiang

Suzhou, China

miles away

Luohanyuan Shuangta (Twin Pagodas)

Suzhou, China

miles away

The Seven Cats of Shantang Street

Suzhou, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Suzhou

Suzhou

China

Places 8

Related Places

  • Mya Thein Tan Pagoda

    Min Kun, Myanmar (Burma)

    Mya Thein Tan Pagoda

    This magnificent white pagoda was constructed to resemble a sacred Buddhist mountain.

  • The Carillon tower.

    Quezon City, Philippines

    UP Carillon Tower’s Original Bells

    Student protesters used these bells as symbols of defiance in the early 1970s.

  • Şehzadeler, Turkey

    Saruhan Bey Pine Tree

    A centuries-old pine tree is growing through the floor and roof of this building.

  • Castillo de Iscar (Iscar Castle)

    Iscar, Spain

    Castillo de Iscar (Iscar Castle)

    This Castilian castle has stood the test of time like few others.

  • Casa Navàs

    Reus, Spain

    Casa Navàs

    Built between 1901 and 1908, this building is one of the most iconic examples of modernist architecture in Spain.

  • Bibliotheca Alexandrina

    Alexandria, Egypt

    Bibliotheca Alexandrina

    The lost library of Alexandria, revived as a spearhead of cultural preservation.

  • Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    Budapest, Hungary

    Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    A stunning Art Nouveau cinema in the heart of Budapest.

  • Fontana dei Libri

    Rome, Italy

    Fontana dei Libri

    A small but very fascinating fountain in the center of Rome with four books and a deer carved.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.