Standing tall since the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), the Randeng Pagoda has watched empires rise and fall – and now gazes at glass-and-steel giants rising around it. This 50-meter guardian of Tongzhou District literally lights up history lessons: its name means 'Lantern Pagoda,' once guiding canal travelers to Beijing like a stone lighthouse 🏮.
Fast-forward to 2025: The pagoda’s 13 tiers now frame Instagram-worthy contrasts. Picture this: your selfie captures 1,400-year-old brickwork with the shimmering Beijing Sub-Center office towers behind you – the ultimate #ThenAndNow moment 📸.
Local student Zhang Wei tells us: 'It’s our time machine. When I bike past its shadow at sunset, I imagine Qing Dynasty merchants cheering – ‘Nearly there!’ just like delivery riders today shouting ‘Order 97 ready!’’ 🚴♂️💨
Pro tip for travelers: Visit at golden hour when the pagoda’s silhouette dances with skyscraper reflections in the Grand Canal. Bonus? Night illuminations turn it into a glowing chess piece between corporate HQs ♟️💡.
