The Chaoyang North Tower was originally a square-brick, 13-storied tower with a double-eaved roof at a height of 41.8 meters. There was an arched doorway on the south side that led to the inside of the tower, but later walls were built around the tower base and the ground floor, sealing off the opening. Each of the four sides has a sitting Buddha embossed in the center with kneeling Bodhisattvas facing each other. Embossed next to the Bodhisattvas are small towers with names carved in regular script. Above the Buddha and Bodhisattvas are several carved figures, such as the flying Apsaras. All of the embossments follow the theme of Buddha from Five Directions, Eight Bodhisattvas and Eight Towers, often seen on Buddhist towers of the Liao Dynasty (916-1125).

The south side of the tower has an actual doorway, while the other three sides are merely adorned with doors with no openings. The tower is tall and straight with many layered eaves. The North Tower possesses the distinct features of Tang Tower and its bricks are like those found in local Tang tombs. Relics from Tang Dynasty (618-907), such as pottery Buddha head, were also unearthed at the site. It is therefore said that the North Tower was built during the Tang Dynasty and that the outer walls were added during the Liao Dynasty.