Viewed from a distance the pagoda appears to be layered, bright on the upper surface and dark underneath, a technique used in ancient Chinese architecture to alternate light and shade and clearly delineate the pagoda for an attractive long-distance view. A panoramic view of the Qiantang River and its bridge is afforded from the top. If tourists are there on any of the three days after the Mid-Autumn Festival (the 15th day of the 8th lunar month), they will witness the spectacular Qiantang River Bore, when a huge wall of water rushes in with a thunderous roar. The roar of the high tides is answered by the beating of gongs and drums along the banks of the river, creating an occasion never to be forgotten.