East Temple Pagoda was once located in Changle Temple, which was also known as East Temple. Though the temple is now destroyed, the pagoda retains the name.

Both temple and pagoda were built during the Tang Dynasty at the same time as West Temple Pagoda, however the pagoda was destroyed by earthquake in 1833. In 1882 it was rebuilt as a thirteen-storey brick structure at a new, higher point, significantly east of its original location. The existing pagoda is a multi-eaved, square building, similar to West Temple Pagoda.

Although rebuilt in 1882 during the Qing Dynasty, the pagoda's style is that of the Tang.