Longxing Temple

❤️ In Longxing Temple of Zhengding County, Hebei Province, after exiting the Great Compassion Pavilion and continuing northward, you will arrive at the Amitabha Hall. Built in the fifth year of the Zhengde era of the Ming dynasty (1510), it was extensively repaired during the Qing dynasty. The hall features a single-eave hipped-gable roof, is five bays wide and four bays deep. As the hall does not have bracket sets, the entire beam frame is constructed by connecting large and small extra beams, purlins, etc., with the columns, displaying a style reminiscent of the Yuan dynasty. 🧡 In the center of the hall, on a 1.57-meter-high Sumeru pedestal, the Ming dynasty clay Amitabha Buddha is enshrined, gilded and magnificent. To the west, stone sculptures of the Eighteen Arhats are offered. The Buddha has a flesh bun and snail-like hair, long earlobes, eyes looking downward, is draped in a kasaya, with hands folded in front of the abdomen in a meditative gesture, seated in a lotus position on a lotus base, measuring 3.99 meters in height. It is said that Buddhist devotees believe that as long as one chants the name 'Amitabha Buddha' wholeheartedly, Amitabha Buddha will guide the chanters to be reborn in the Pure Land. 💜 Some compare Longxing Temple to a beautiful symphony with ups and downs, pleasing to the eye and heart. If the Great Compassion Pavilion is the climax of this symphony, then the Amitabha Hall is the subdued and gentle passage that follows the climax.

After visiting Zhengding, you'll understand what a treasure trove of an ancient city it is! Ancient temples, pagodas, and city walls, you'll be immersed in the rich architecture and historical atmosphere all day long. 🚗Transport Three hours by car from Beijing, or one hour by high-speed train to Shijiazhuang or train to Zhengding then transfer to a bus. Free parking is available at various scenic spots within the ancient city, which is very considerate. You can also choose to walk between the sights, as the distances are not too far. . 🚶🏻‍♀️Tour Route 1️⃣Longxing Temple: A must-see! One of China's top ten famous temples, built during the Sui Dynasty, expanded in the Northern Song Dynasty, it has witnessed numerous prosperous eras, with all Buddha statues and murals exquisitely stunning. ▪️The Reclining Guanyin, hailed by Lu Xun as the "Eastern Goddess of Beauty," captivating to the point where it's hard to look away. ▪️The bronze Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin statue, over 20 meters tall, a miracle of ancient metallurgy. ▪️The bronze Vairocana Buddha, made by the order of Emperor Wanli during the Ming Dynasty, with over a thousand Buddha figures on its surface, a rare artistic treasure. ▪️The wooden Maitreya, carved from a single piece of wood during the Northern Song Dynasty. ▪️Giant murals, with walls in the Mani Hall fully painted, using lead powder and gold leaf, the colors and layers are of superior quality. ▪️The revolving sutra cabinets, wooden scripture storages from the Song Dynasty, are also the oldest existing ones. 🎫50 🕘2-3 hours 2️⃣Have lunch at Wangquan Ancient Street, with local delicacies like the Eight Great Bowls, donkey meat, covered pancakes, meatball soup, and Hele noodles. 3️⃣Rongguo House: If you like 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' you can visit here. It's quite large and includes some scenes from the 1987 TV series, but the Grand View Garden is not here. 🎫40 🕜30 minutes 4️⃣Tianning Temple: The entire structure is made of brick and wood, and the design of the central pillar of the fourth floor reaching to the sky is unique in the country. 🎫15 🕑15 minutes 5️⃣Kaiyuan Temple: Home to the largest existing Pixiu in China, and the only remaining Tang Dynasty bell tower. Also, the stone carvings of the powerful warriors at the base of the tower are worth seeing. 🎫20 🕑20 minutes 6️⃣Linji Temple: The origin of the Linji school, one of the most widely spread schools of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China. 🎫🆓 🕑15 minutes 7️⃣Guanghui Temple: An octagonal brick-carved, wood-structured pagoda, very exquisite, called a 'unique treasure within the seas' by Liang Sicheng. 🎫15 🕑15 minutes (Personally, I think Kaiyuan Temple is worth entering, the others can be appreciated from a distance as well) 8️⃣Yanghe Building: Originally built during the Jin Dynasty, recently reconstructed, climbing the building offers a bird's-eye view of the ancient city's central axis. The night view is also beautiful. 🎫🆓 🕑15 minutes 9️⃣South City Gate: Climbing the city wall allows you to see all four pagodas in one frame. Inside the city gate, there is also a barbican. 🎫🆓 🕑30 minutes

I really regret it, I actually came here now! The ancient buildings of Zhengding Longxing Temple are really too beautiful, completely beyond my imagination. These buildings with a history of 1400 years, every brick and tile are full of the traces of time and the precipitation of history. The moment I stepped into the temple, it seemed that the whole world had quieted down, leaving only me and this sacred ancient building. The architecture here is really ingenious, every detail is full of artistic breath. The unique form of the Mani Hall, the beauty of the colorful hanging Shuo Guanyin statue, and the exquisite bronze cast Vairocana Buddha, all make me amazed. Moreover, there are six national bests here! From the most peculiar Mani Hall, to the most beautiful colorful hanging Shuo Guanyin statue, to the earliest existing regular script stele Sui 'Longzang Temple Stele', every place makes me linger. In addition, Longxing Temple also has six major landscapes! The precepts altar, the Great Compassion Pavilion, the Gateless Temple, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mani Hall, and the Wheel-turning Treasury Pavilion, each has its unique charm. I had a very pleasant afternoon here, drinking tea while enjoying the lakeside scenery, it was really comfortable.

Ticket price is 50 yuan, free for those above 60 years old. The architecture and statues inside the temple are really beautiful; if you have ample time, you should definitely take a longer look. Wandering around Longxing Temple, it feels like you've arrived at the Jinci Temple in Taiyuan, Shanxi ~ The temple was originally built in the sixth year of the Sui Kaihuang era (586 AD), initially named Longzang Temple, renamed to Longxing Temple during the Tang Dynasty, and in the forty-ninth year of Kangxi's reign (1710 AD) it was bestowed the name 'Longxing Temple' which has been used to this day. Let me pick the most impressive part to talk about (official introduction): Inside the Mani Hall, the north wall of the trough is a Song dynasty polychrome clay relief of a hanging mountain, with over 30 Buddha statues on it. The most eye-catching is the polychrome Avalokitesvara sitting in the middle, commonly known as the 'Upside-Down Avalokitesvara'. The Avalokitesvara is 3.4 meters tall, with the left foot on a lotus and the right leg bent up, both hands embracing the knee, the body slightly leaning forward, the face is beautiful and serene, and the posture is elegant and dignified. Below the willow-shaped eyebrows, those deep and wise eyes look down slightly, forming an emotional exchange with the worshippers looking up (this reading comprehension, a hundred faints! ^_^), this humanized Buddha statue was referred to by Mr. Lu Xun as the 'Goddess of Beauty of the East'. During the Spring Festival holiday, while strolling in Jizhou, Tianjin, I also saw a similar 'Upside-Down Avalokitesvara' in the Dule Temple, but it was a smaller version.

Treasure Temple Longxing Temple The Pilu Hall at the end of Longxing Temple was originally the main hall of Chongyin Temple, one of the eight great temples of Zhengding. It was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, and was relocated here after the temple fell into disrepair. In the center of the hall, there is a Ming Dynasty bronze statue of Pilu Buddha, which was made by the Ming Shenzong for his mother, Empress Dowager Li, and is another national treasure of Longxing Temple. The statue is divided into three layers, each with four Pilu Buddhas, wearing a five-Buddha crown, making the Pilu hand gesture, and sitting in a cross-legged position. On the thousand lotus petals of the three-layer lotus seat, there is a small Buddha statue, forming a pattern of a thousand Buddhas around Pilu Buddha. Other attractions The imperial plaque and the twin dragon glazed screen at the entrance of the Heavenly King Hall Longxing Temple does not have a mountain gate, the Heavenly King Hall is both the mountain gate and the first hall. Interestingly, there has always been a saying 'The temple is big and the mountain gate is far, the mountain gate is in Henan', which you can search for if interested The walls of the Mani Hall are adorned with Ming Dynasty murals, also worth a look From the bright outdoors to the inside of the hall, it's hard to see the murals on the walls clearly, and they can be easily overlooked. Your eyes need to adjust to the dim light environment to make them out The base of the Thousand-Handed Guanyin is an original piece from the Song Dynasty The cultural and creative shop on the east side of the Great Compassion Pavilion can stamp, and there are also fridge magnets and other Longxing Temple souvenirs Address: No. 109, Zhongshan East Road, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province Transportation: Bus routes 134, 135, 143, 164, Sightseeing 1: The garden maintenance inside is very good Adult ticket: 50 yuan Child/Senior ticket: 25 yuan Volunteers are available, with enthusiastic service Visiting time: 2-3 hours

There are not many ancient buildings that can be praised by Mr. Liang Sicheng, and Longxing Temple in Zhengding is one of them. The title of 'the first famous temple outside Beijing' is a great affirmation. The temple has a large number of sculptures, murals, inscriptions and ancient buildings from the Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. I want to go to Zhengding to see, Longxing Temple is probably my motivation. People say that Longxing Temple has the world-famous 'Six Uniques', but in my opinion, the wonderfulness of Longxing Temple is more than 'Six Uniques'. 👑Six Uniques of Longxing Temple 1️⃣ Song Dynasty Mani Hall: Mr. Liang Sicheng said that he had only seen such a building in Song Dynasty paintings. Even the stone incense burner at the door is an original from the Song Dynasty. 2️⃣ Reversed Seated Guanyin: Known as the Eastern Beauty God, like a fairy, like a human, like a god, like a Buddha. 3️⃣ Turning Wheel Treasury: Original from the Song Dynasty, the oldest and largest in scale. 4️⃣ Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Statue: Built in the Song Dynasty, the ceiling of the bronze Buddha statue. 5️⃣ Ming Dynasty Vairocana Buddha Statue: There are thousands of Buddha statues on the three-layer lotus seat. 6️⃣ Longzang Temple Stele: The first stele of the Sui Dynasty, the ancestor of regular script stele carving. 💁🏻Personal recommendations beyond the 'Six Uniques' ✅ Precept Platform: One of the three major platforms in the north. ✅ Ming Dynasty Bronze Double-Faced Buddha: Amitabha Buddha + Medicine Buddha. ✅ Song Dynasty Buddha Statue in Mani Hall: One Buddha, two Bodhisattvas and two disciples (mud gold). ✅ Ming Dynasty Murals: Around the walls of Mani Hall. ✅ Northern Song Dynasty Wood Carved Maitreya Bodhisattva: In Cishi Pavilion. ✅ Great Compassion Pavilion: The wooden structure is from the Song Dynasty, and the exterior is from the Qing Dynasty. ✅ Sumeru Seat Relief: Under the Thousand-Hand Guanyin Statue in the Great Compassion Pavilion. There are so many treasures in a temple, which is rare in China, and it is very friendly to tourists. Basically, no one will stop you from taking pictures here. Hebei people are really generous‼️

Unexpected international village, worth a citywalk Time: 9:00—20:00 Route: Zhengding Station→Ancient City Wall→Guanghui Temple→Linji Temple→Yanghe Tower→Kaiyuan Temple→Tianning Temple→Longxing Temple→Hebei Museum→Shijiazhuang Station. Transportation: ①Taxi: Take a taxi to Zhengding in the city, about 0.5h, about 50 yuan ②Bus: Take bus 130 from the museum to Zhengding, about 40 minutes ③Train: Zhengding Station Ancient city transportation: The distance between attractions is about 1 kilometer, it is recommended to walk Cost: 204r, scenic spot tickets + transportation + food Ancient City Wall (free): Built in the Ming Dynasty. Guanghui Temple (15r): There is only one tower, currently the most magnificent tower in China. Built in the Song Dynasty, a pavilion building combining brick and wood, 31.5m high, 4 floors. The fourth floor is the essence of the tower, with wall sculptures and inlays, two stone Buddhas are enshrined in the conical inner eaves tower room, and the outer eaves are centered on the vertical lines of the eight faces and eight corners, with interlaced colored sculptures of Bodhisattvas, strong men, birds and beasts, lions, elephants, frogs and pavilions etc. Linji Temple (free): Built in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. Daxiong Hall: Enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha. Chengling Tower: 30.47 meters high, octagonal nine-level eaves tower. Yanghe Tower (free): Built at the end of the Jin Dynasty and the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, it is the cradle of Yuanqu. Kaiyuan Temple (20r): Built in the Eastern Wei Dynasty. Sumeru Tower, 39.55m high, 9 floors. Bell Tower: The only existing Tang Dynasty bell tower. Tianning Temple (15r): Only Lingxiao Tower, built in the Tang Dynasty, brick and wood structure, 9-storey pavilion tower, 41 meters high. Longxing Temple (5r): You must bring a guide to visit. Dabei Pavilion: The main hall of the temple, the pavilion is 33 meters high, the five-story three-story pavilion enshrines the Great Compassion Guanyin Bodhisattva 21.3 meters high, which is the best preserved and highest bronze cast Guanyin Bodhisattva in China, with 42 arms around the body, also known as "Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes Guanyin" Each arm holds the sun and moon, clean bottle, pagoda, vajra, sword, etc. Mani Hall: Enshrines Sakyamuni, the east and west sides of the hall are painted with the Western Paradise and the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World, the north side wall is a five-color hanging mountain made of clay, with more than 30 Buddha statues, and the most beautiful five-color hanging Shuo Guanyin statue in the middle. Hebei Museum: You must ask for an explanation Ten treasures of the museum: ①Liu Sheng's gold-threaded jade suit ②Changxin Palace lamp ③Gold-inlaid Boshan stove ④King Zhongshan's large bronze tripod ⑤Gold and silver four dragons and four phoenixes bronze square case ⑥Carved dragon and phoenix pattern copper head ⑦Mural of the tomb passage of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi Gao Yang ⑧White stone painted music relief ⑨Blue and white open light carved red blue glaze flowers and plants large jar Tips: 1、You can pray for blessings clockwise around the tower 2、Enter the temple to visit and pray for blessings clockwise 3、Do not take pictures of Buddha statues 4、There are joint tickets for ancient city attractions, 80r

Although many buildings in Longxing Temple have been destroyed, the preserved collections are basically Ming and Qing collections except for the Longzang Temple stele from the Sui Dynasty. However, just by the Water Moon Guanyin and the wall murals in the Mani Hall, it is worth the ticket price. Picture 1: The Water Moon Guanyin on the five-color hanging mountain of the Song Dynasty (remodeled in 1563 of the Ming Dynasty), with stunning beauty, is Lu Xun's favorite. This level of sculpture may not be a big deal in Italy, but it is definitely a rare national treasure in China. What's more commendable is that it survived the Cultural Revolution. Picture 2: The murals of the Western Three Saints in the Mani Hall of the Ming Dynasty. The Buddha of Immeasurable is in the middle, with Guanyin and Mahasthamaprapta on both sides. Picture 3: The best preserved and largest bronze cast Thousand-Hand Guanyin in China. However, it is a pity that the arms behind are all repaired with wood carving and gilding. Picture 4: The stele of Longzang Temple in the Sui Dynasty is the earliest existing regular script stele in China. Picture 5: Mani Hall, rebuilt in the Song Dynasty and repaired in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Ming and Qing murals and Water Moon Guanyin are all inside, Liang Sicheng's favorite Picture 6: The Pilu Buddha cast by Emperor Wanli for his mother's birthday. There are a total of 1072 Buddha statues on it. Picture 7: The revolving library of the Song Dynasty. It is generally believed that the West is good at geometry and the East is good at arithmetic. However, from the mortise and tenon structure, it can be seen that China's geometric foundation is also excellent. Picture 8: Glazed wall, glaze should be called Lu Li before, which is that weird thing. Picture 9: Wood-carved Maitreya Buddha. Except for the Buddha light behind, the entire Buddha statue is carved out of a whole piece of wood.

Longxing Temple, also known as the Great Buddha Temple, is located in Dongmenli Street, Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. The temple was first built in the sixth year of Sui Kaihuang (586 AD), originally named Longcang Temple, and renamed Longxing Temple in the Tang Dynasty. In the forty-ninth year of Kangxi (1710), it was given the name 'Longxing Temple' and has been used ever since. Zhengding Longxing Temple is praised by Liang Sicheng, a Chinese ancient architecture expert, as a unique example of Song Dynasty architecture in the world, the 'Mani Hall', praised by Lu Xun as the 'Eastern Beauty God', the 'Upside-down Guanyin', and the highest bronze cast Buddha in China, the 'Thousand-Hand Guanyin'.

Here is a travel guide to Longxing Temple in Zhengding, Hebei: 1. Transportation: You can take the high-speed train to Zhengding. After getting off at Zhengding Station, take a bus or taxi to Longxing Temple. 2. Food: There is a Wangquan Ancient Street near Longxing Temple. The street is built in the architectural style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, mainly featuring old-brand catering and special catering, supplemented by tea houses, cultural and creative industries, and cultural performances. - Popular shops: The unique taste of the noodles pressed out by the dragon head bed in the shop; Zhengding roast skin residue, Zhengding liver collapse, etc. are all special dishes. 3. Shopping: You can buy some cultural and creative products on Wangquan Ancient Street, such as bookmarks, ornaments, etc. Please note that travel plans may need to be adjusted according to actual conditions, such as transportation, weather, and personal interests. Wish you a pleasant journey!

The ancient temple of Longxing in Zhengding, guarding Chery for a thousand years; Skilled craftsmen surpass nature, six treasures shine in China.