Yǒngjiā

Yongjia is the old county of Wenzhou, on the Ou River near its mouth. On Jiangxin Island, two pagodas rise above Buddhist temples in the river channel. Their height made them useful landmarks for ships approaching the port as well as places of worship. The towers were repaired during the Ming, including work on the west tower in 1378 and on both towers in the 1590s. Lamps were lit in them at night to guide vessels, joining the island's religious life with the navigation of Wenzhou's harbour.