Baota Hill (Pagoda Hill) gained its name from a 44-meter (144-feet) nine-story pagoda standing at its summit. The Pagoda is the symbol of Yan’an and you will see it as you arrive in Yan’an. It is a key historic relic under national protection. Baota hill is crowned at 1136 meters (3727 feet) and the attic of the pagoda is a perfect venue to view the Loess Plateau scenery and get a bird’s eye view of Yan’an City.
Location
It is located at the southeast of Yan’an City.
Features
Baota Hill, taking an area of 360,000 square meters (3,875,000 square feet), is a very enchanting place covered by various kinds of trees. It is a good place to escape summer heat because the temperature here is usually lower than those of the other places in Yan’an.
It is a scenic area of both historic and revolutionary importance. The pagoda was first built in the early Tang Dynasty (618-907) . It was ever served as military headhunters of the central government for defending north minorities during the Song Dynasty (960-1234). The pagoda today was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). There are many historical and cultural relics left: 260-meter-long (853-feet-long) stone inscriptions of the Song Dynasty (960-1234), a huge iron bell of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), steles of the Qing Dynasty (1616 AD to1911 AD), beacon tower and ancient city wall.
It was used to be an important venue of Chinese communists during the Chinese Revolutionary Movement. The iron bell of the Ming Dynasty adjacent to the pagoda was used as an alarm and clock at that time.
Transportation: You can take public buses No.1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 18 or 19 to get there.
Tips
1. The attic of the pagoda is a perfect venue to take a photo Yan’an City’s panorama.
2. Qingliang Hill adjacent to Baota Hill is a vantage point for to take a photo of the whole Baota Hill.
3. The stairs of the pagoda are very narrow. Please be careful while climbing and moving slowing when there are a lot of people.
