Longxing Temple in Xinjiang| Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, once resided here

Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, once resided here. Longxing Temple houses three treasures: the Tang Dynasty calligraphic gem, the Biluo Stele; the Yuan Dynasty relic, the colorful sculptures in the Mahavira Hall; and the Longxing Temple Pagoda that frequently emits blue smoke. Inside the Mahavira Hall, there are seven Song and Jin Dynasty colored sculptures. In the center is the Dharma Body Buddha 'Vairocana Buddha', to the east is the Reward Body Buddha 'Ratnasambhava Buddha', and to the west is the Response Body Buddha 'Sakyamuni Buddha'. On both sides of these three main Buddhas, there are also the four great Bodhisattvas: Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha, and Avalokitesvara. The sculptures are 4.5 meters tall, with solemn faces, broad robes, and robust figures, very beautiful. Several statues in the hall have blackened faces, said to be because during the Republic of China period, local people lived here to avoid the chaos of war, and the smoke from heating and cooking gradually blackened the statues or covered them with a layer of ash. The Longxing Pagoda, originally built during the Tang Dynasty and restored in the Qing Dynasty, is octagonal, thirteen levels high, and entirely constructed of green bricks. The rafters, columns, and dougong under each eave of the pagoda body are all imitation wood structures. Inside the pagoda is a wooden staircase, which is very narrow and can only accommodate one person at a time. The top of the pagoda is a viewing platform, which can also be described as an iron cage. The space outside the cage is narrow, but it overlooks the entire old town of Xinjiang. Climbing the pagoda costs only five yuan, and this thousand-year-old treasure should be cherished! The Biluo Stele, with its small seal script, is graceful and unique in writing, with neat strokes and a strict layout. It is difficult for later generations to read and is a treasure in the history of Chinese calligraphy.