It was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. In front of the pagoda a stone tablet bears Emperor Qianlong's eulogy of the pagoda. A pavilion used to stand next to the pagoda, but it was damaged by the allied forces of Britain and France when they entered Beijing, and only a brick platform survived.

Combining the multistoreyod and multi-eared styles, the pagoda has three graded storeys, each with double-or triple-layer eaves supported by brackets. The surface of the pagoda is decorated with tiny glazed statues of Buddha. The entire structure is a harmony of rich color, worthy of being called a masterpiece and unique among pagodas of its kind.