Zhiyun Temple, located near Lashi Lake, is one of the five great temples in Lijiang

It is a place in Lijiang worth visiting and revisiting, along with Yuhu Village, as well as Zhiyun Temple near Lashi Lake. A forty-minute drive from the bustling Lijiang Dayan Ancient Town takes you to this serene place, passing through a beautiful village and a thousand-acre peach orchard by Lashi Lake along the way. One can only imagine how beautiful it must be when the peach blossoms are in full bloom in spring! Walking through the orchard, you can see the high and low buildings of Zhiyun Temple from afar, resembling a mountain city. Entering Zhiyun Temple, the temple is quiet and simple. The temple was originally built during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty (1727), and was rebuilt during the Guangxu period. It has a history of three hundred years and is one of the famous five great temples in Lijiang. It showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of Lijiang from the Qing Dynasty, reflecting the fusion of Han, Tibetan, Bai, and Naxi architectural art. Inside the courtyard, there are ancient trees such as mulberry, locust, ginkgo, and cherry trees that are two to three hundred years old, and pigeons, dogs, and cats stroll leisurely in the temple. I have seen a set of photos of this place in autumn, with the ginkgo trees turning yellow, very beautiful! Climbing the tall stone steps to the majestic main hall, around four or five in the afternoon, it is time for the lamas to attend evening class. The congregation uses Tibetan Buddhist ritual instruments during the chanting, such as the bell, drum, prayer wheel, rosary, conch, and vajra... Although I don't understand the scriptures they recite, I still sat and watched quietly for half an hour. It was very impressive and awe-inspiring. In front of Zhiyun Temple, there is a stone where monks sit in the lotus position, and on the south slope behind Zhiyun Temple, there is a 'Terma' stone. The Terma stone is engraved with Sanskrit and Tibetan scriptures and is now enshrined in a four-story pavilion, filled with statues that people pray to for children and wealth. Zhiyun Temple has a Buddhist college and is the one with the most monk quarters among the five great temples in Lijiang. There is a living area for the monks within the temple, and visitors should be careful not to enter it by mistake. There is no admission fee for Zhiyun Temple, and donations are voluntary, peaceful, and tranquil. Thirsty, I wanted to buy a bottle of mineral water, but a nun gave me one for free. There are very few commercial establishments near Zhiyun Temple, and there are two vendors selling cold noodles in the parking lot. When we left, we also gave a ride to a person destined for the ancient town.