The Chaoyang South Tower stands at the southern end of the old city, its thirteen-tiered silhouette balancing the North Tower a kilometre to the north. Built during the Northern Yan or early Northern Wei period and subsequently repaired during the Liao Dynasty, the tower belongs to the same concentrated cluster of early Buddhist architecture that makes Chaoyang unusual among Chinese cities. The South Tower is somewhat less visited than the North Tower and consequently quieter — a better place to stand and look at the structure without a crowd.
The base of the tower contains a small shrine that remains in active use, with incense and offerings on most days. The surrounding neighbourhood is ordinary city fabric rather than a developed tourist zone, which gives the visit a more authentic character than the more managed North Tower site. Both towers are visible from each other on a clear day.