Baota

Baota is a Chinese toponym formed from the characters for "treasure" or "precious" (宝) and "pagoda" or "tower" (塔). The name literally refers to a pagoda or tower and is used in various place names across China to denote hills or landmarks that feature a pagoda or tower.

The most prominent use is Baota District (宝塔区) in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province. This district lies in the urban center of Yan'an and serves as the city’s administrative and commercial hub. Its name derives from Baota Mountain (Baota Shan), a nearby hill crowned by a notable white pagoda that has long been a local landmark. The area is closely linked to Yan’an’s association with the Chinese revolutionary period, and it hosts museums and historical sites related to that era.

Baota Mountain itself is a well-known topographic feature in Yan'an, often depicted in regional imagery and regarded as a symbol of the city. The combination of the hill and pagoda has made the name Baota a recognizable emblem in the area.

Beyond Yan'an, the characters 宝塔 appear in various other Chinese place names, reflecting the common practice of naming locales after pagodas, towers, or hilltops. In different regions, the exact referent—whether a geographic feature, a historical structure, or an administrative district—varies with local context.