Called also “Buddhistic Tower” or “Treasure Tower” in China, the pagoda is a common scene in temples, and it is closely related to the emergence and development of Buddhism. The unique-shaped and time-honored pagodas are mostly the magnificent views of the temples in which they were built.

Stamp Title: Ancient Pagodas of China
Serial number: 1994-21
Values in set: 4
(4-1), Dayan Pagoda in Ci’en Temple, Xi’an, 20 fen, 30*40 mm
(4-2), Zhenguo Pagoda in Kaiyuan Temple, Quanzhou, 20 fen, 30*40 mm
(4-3), Liuhe Pagoda in Kaihua Temple, Hangzhou, 50 fen, 30*40 mm
(4-4), Pagoda in Youguo Temple, Kaifeng, 200 fen, 30*40 mm
Date of issue: December 15, 1994
Designers & Engravers: Li Qingfa; Jiang Weijie
Size of stamp: 30*40 mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 50
Printing process: Gravure-engraving combined

(1-1), Ancient Pagodas of China, 290 fen, 140*90mm/ 30*40mm

(1-1), Ancient Pagodas of China, 290 fen, 140*90mm/ 30*40mm

The Greater Wild Goose Pagoda stands in the western courtyard of the Ci’en Temple. It was built in AD 652 for storing Buddhist scriptures. Down the centuries, it was repeatedly destroyed and restored. Today, it consists of seven stories and is 59.9m high. It rests on a base 4.2m thick that measures 48.8m north to south and 45.9m east to west. With its base, it is 64.1m high.

The Zhenguo Pagoda is one of two (the east and the west) pagodas at Kaiyuan Temple, which stand 200m from each other. Both are five-storey, eight-sided structures of stone. The east pagoda, featured on the stamp was built in 865, originally in wood but rebuilt 1238-1250 in granite.

The Pagoda of Six Harmonies of Kaihua Temple stands on Yuelun Hill beside the Qiantang River of Hangzhou. It was built in 970 by King Qian Chu of Wuyue. The original pagoda was a nine-storey building over 150m high. The reconstruction seen today is 59.89m.

The Pagoda of Youguo Temple in Kaifeng was built in 1049 and stands in the northeastern corner of today’s Kaifeng City. It is an eight-sided 13 storey building with a height of 55.08m.

Knowing China Through Chinese Stamps.

1994年特种邮票《中国古塔》
国家邮政局1994年12月15日发行《中国古塔》特种邮票1套4枚。
（4-1）T 西安慈恩寺大雁塔 20分 4846.8万枚
（4-2）T 泉州开元寺镇国塔 20分 4961.7万枚
（4-3）T 杭州开化寺六和塔 50分 3731.7万枚
（4-4）T 开封祐国寺塔 200分 3559.2万枚
小全张 中国古塔 290分 1673.6万枚

志号名称：1994-21T
版别：影写、雕刻
整版枚数：50（10×5）
全套面值：2.90元
齿孔度数：11.5×11度
邮票规格：30×40毫米
小型张邮票规格 30×40毫米
小型张外形规格 140×90毫米
设计者：李庆发、姜伟杰
印制机构：北京邮票厂