You cannot skip over three time-honored pagodas when learning the history of Guangzhou - Lotus Pagoda, Pazhou Pagoda and Chigang Pagoda. They stand quietly on the banks of the Pearl River and were maritime navigation marks for overseas merchant ships in the past.

（Photo：Nanfang Plus）

Fengshui pagodas for Cantonese

The three pagodas were all built in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) with a height of about 50 meters. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the three pagodas were the tallest buildings in Guangzhou. Even the Zhenhai Building, a historical site on Yuexiu Mountain, can only reach half of their height. In a sense, the three pagodas, like the current Canton Tower, were the city's landmarks.

There are countless ancient pagodas in China such as Buddhist pagodas and Fengshui pagodas (Fengshui, or geomancy is a kind of traditional Chinese practice of determining the location of a house, tomb, or other items that are believed to have a vital bearing on the fortunes of the family). The three pagodas in Guangzhou belong to the latter. According to legend, there were evils in the city, some people proposed to build pagodas in three special places, expecting everything went well in Guangzhou.

Landmarks for foreign merchants

During the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), the Thirteen Hongs in Guangzhou were once the gateway through which China connected to the world, as well as the window through which the world got to know China. And the three pagodas were regarded as important stations for foreign businessmen to enter Guangzhou.

When seeing the lofty Lotus Tower in the mist, foreign merchants on the boat would know that Guangzhou was not far away. When seeing the Pazhou Tower, merchants would enter the Huangpu Ancient Port to anchor, and then took the Chinese flat boat to continue to the north. When seeing the Chigang Pagoda, it meant that the merchants had arrived in downtown Guangzhou, not far from the Thirteenth Hongs.

Many foreign merchants painted or wrote to depict the appearance of pagodas in their memories. William C. Hunter, an American businessman, once wrote in his book "Bits of Old China", "Foreigners, on coming up the river to Canton havebeen attracted by several lofty pagodas …The one nearest to Canton is to foreigners known as theLob Creek Pagoda (Chigang Pagoda), from a small branch of the riverrunning by the foot of the eminence on which it stands.The other is the Whampoa Pagoda (Pazhou Pagoda), and a third (Lotus Pagoda) standson a height abreast of the second bar. From the FiveStory Hall, within the city walls, this is distinctly visible,though at distance of thirty miles."

Waterside playgrounds for modern residents

The legendary stories of the three pagodas in Guangzhou evolve into a new chapter today. Built by the river, they have given rise to various kinds of activities close to water with the changes in the city.

From the Chigang Pagoda, you can walk to the Binjiang East Road and see the Pearl River between the Liede Bridge and the Guangzhou Bridge. The busy scene in the old days of sails and boats on the river has been replaced by an array of sightseeing boats with tourists on board wearing sunglasses and enjoying the river breezes.

Take the Tram, Haizhu Line 1 and savor the splendid view of the Pearl River through windows. Then get off at the Pazhou Tower station and walk along the stone road of a hill. There is a water museum that covers an area of 260,000 square meters and tells the water history and culture of Guangzhou.

If time permits, go to Panyu Lotus Mountain for a short holiday. Perched on a hill, the Lotus Tower commands a beautiful view over the Pearl River in the distance. And the statue of Confucius is enshrined in the tower, which attracts many students to pray for blessings.

Wander in an ancient mine on the mountain, feel the summer coolness and the breeze blowing from the Pearl River port, all worries will be flung to winds.

There is also a peach garden on the mountain. Scattered around those dense peach trees are several Dai-style bamboo houses. It's a land of idyllic beauty!