Construction on the stone and brick Liaodi Pagoda begins in the year 1001 during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, who intends to have Buddhist scriptures gathered by the Chinese monk Huineng from India stored at the pagoda's site.

When completed in 1055, it will be the tallest existing pre-modern Chinese pagoda and tallest brick pagoda in the world, surpassing the height of China's previously tallest pagoda still standing, the central pagoda of the Three Pagodas, which stands at 69.13 meters (two hundred and thirty feet).

(The tallest pagoda in pre-modern Chinese history was a one hundred meter-tall three hundred and thirty feet) wooden pagoda tower in Chang'an built in 611 by Emperor Yang of Sui, yet this structure no longer stands.)