[2024 Zezhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Qinglian Temple (Updated Sep)
No.1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Jincheng
Temples
Address:
17 km southeast of Jincheng District
Opening times:
Opens at 09:00-17:00(Admission ends at 16:30)Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
1 hour
Phone:
0356-3959730
Qinglian Temple.
Qinglian Temple was established in the Northern Qi Dynasty and was once a place where the Buddhist community of the Sui and Tang Dynasties aspired to be, similar to a training base for high monks. It is divided into the upper and lower temples. The lower temple is also called the Ancient Qinglian Temple. It has a pagoda from the Yuan Dynasty and a Shakya Hall with iron railings. Inside are Tang-style colored sculptures. You can see them through the railings. It is said that it was not open before. I happened to meet a teacher who taught archaeology and brought students to see it. I heard a lot of explanations, but I didn't understand it. But I think the skills of the ancients are very good. The modern restoration is done by students from the Sculpture Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Because they study Western sculpture, they can't restore the original appearance. The upper temple is called Fuyan Zen Temple. The lower temple was established first, followed by the upper temple. There are no two 1,400-year-old ginkgo trees. The Maitreya Hall also has Tang Dynasty colored sculptures. The hands are damaged. It is said that they don't know what it was like before, so they didn't repair it. Qinglian Temple is backed by mountains and faces the water. It is very beautiful in the sun.
HEIDI PARKS
Qinglian Temple in Jincheng, Shanxi | Experience the Buddhist charm of the Northern Qi Dynasty.
🙏 Qinglian Temple, originally known as Xieshi Temple, was founded during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-559 AD) and is one of the earliest temples of the Maitreya Pure Land Sect in China.
🎈 Highlight 1: Qinglian Temple is famous for its 54 existing Tang and Song Dynasty colored sculptures. The most precious cultural heritage is the 6 Tang Dynasty colored sculptures, including the Maitreya Buddha with hanging legs, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.
🎈 Highlight 2: The Tibetan-style stupa built during the Jiajing and Wanli periods of the Ming Dynasty is over 20 meters high. The base is an octagonal Sumeru style, the middle is a bowl-shaped pagoda body, and the top has thirteen layers of wheels. Every year on the Dragon Boat Festival, the shadow of the pagoda is not visible at any time, so it is called the "Shadowless Pagoda".
🎈 Highlight 3: Qinglian Temple has many steles, more than 80 in total. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been various fonts such as regular script, cursive script, official script, and seal script.
🕹️ Location: Suburban area of Jincheng City (at the foot of Jueshan Scenic Area)
🚘 Transportation: 30 minutes by car (it is easy to take a taxi on the way there, but it is not easy to take a taxi on the way back, and the taxi fare is about RMB 30)
🚌 Bus: Buy a ticket on the "Beautiful Taihang Jincheng Tour" bus, take bus No. 213 to Jueshan in Jincheng (RMB 1, 20 minutes)
🎫 Reservation method: Make a reservation on "Fengya Jincheng" and visit for free
RU. Gus 35
From the game scene of , we have arrived at the real Qinglian Temple in Zezhou County
Today, I want to share with you an amazing place ➡️ Qinglian Temple in Zezhou County. Every corner of this ancient temple exudes a mysterious and charming atmosphere.
🌟
📍 Qinglian Temple, Jin Village Town, Zezhou County, Jincheng City, Shanxi Province
🚗Transportation: It is recommended to drive by yourself, as the transportation here is not very convenient.
🎫Tickets: Free
⏳Visiting time: 1-2 hours
🌟
About the visit
Qinglian Temple is divided into two parts: the ancient Qinglian Temple and the new Qinglian Temple, both built on the mountain and facing south. The ancient Qinglian Temple was first built during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 559 AD), initially named 'Xiaoshi Temple', and later renamed Qinglian Temple in the eighth year of Tang Xiantong (867 AD). The existing ancient Qinglian Temple includes the main hall, the south hall, and the Ming Dynasty relic pagoda. The main hall houses six Tang Dynasty colored sculptures, which are among the more than 70 Tang Dynasty temple sculptures existing nationwide. Moreover, the temple is surrounded by mountains and water, making the scenery particularly enchanting.
Cook_Barbara_21
Qinglian Temple, Upper Courtyard
The new Qinglian Temple, also known as the Upper Courtyard of Qinglian Temple, is colloquially referred to as the Upper Courtyard due to its higher elevation. It is situated in the heart of the Xiaoshi Mountain, surrounded by three mountains. The temple complex is built along the mountain, facing north with a slight deviation of 8° to the west. The overall layout of the temple is rectangular, approximately 100 meters long from north to south and 60 meters wide from east to west, covering an area of about 6000 square meters. The new Qinglian Temple has more than twenty buildings of various sizes. The main courtyard and central axis are divided into three courtyards; the side courtyards are divided into east and west courtyards. In the front is a platform with east and west pavilions built on it. Behind the pavilions are the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Sutra Library, the Shakyamuni Hall, and the Mahavira Hall in sequence. On both sides are the Guanyin Pavilion, the Ksitigarbha Pavilion, the Sutra Hall, and the monks' quarters. The buildings are arranged in a staggered manner, symmetrical on the left and right. The temple currently preserves ten stone inscriptions from the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, featuring various calligraphy styles including regular script, cursive script, clerical script, and seal script. These inscriptions are valuable materials for studying the history of the temple and the art of calligraphy.
On January 13, 1988, Qinglian Temple was announced as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
Located 17 kilometers southeast of Jincheng City, Shanxi Province, on the north side of Siashan Mountain in Sitan Village. Free admission...
Qinglian Temple
Dominic678_Bailey
Please come to Jincheng!!!
📍Attraction address: Qinglian Temple
🚗Transportation: Take bus 213 from the East Bus Station to the foot of Jueshan (you must depart from Jincheng East Bus Station!!!)
👍️Must-see attractions: Qinglian Upper Temple, Qinglian Lower Temple
🎟️Ticket info: No additional ticket required for Qinglian Temple
However, if you take a bus to the visitor center, you need to pay CNY 15 for a shuttle bus to Qinglian Temple.
FoodieExtraordinaire
Follow Wukong to travel in Shanxi, 4 days and 3 nights Jin Southeast Line attractions strategy.
This issue is a detailed explanation of the "4-day and 3-night Jin Southeast Line" of the "Black Myth: Wukong" tour in Shanxi! The route is themed on "Magical Shangdang and Exquisite Statues", covering the Shangdang area of Jin Southeast, including two cities, Jincheng and Changzhi, and a total of 11 attractions! Among them, three attractions have set up offline check-in points, where you can receive checkpoint certificates, themed souvenirs, etc.! Welcome all "Destiny People" to come and play!
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📢4-day and 3-night Jin Southeast Line
——Magical Shangdang and Exquisite Statues
🚙Traffic suggestion: Self-driving (non-self-driving traffic strategy below)
Day1️⃣Jincheng
🚥Traffic: Jincheng has opened two "Black Myth: Wukong" tourist lines.
①Jincheng East Station - Yuhuang Temple - Ju'e Mountain
Via stations: Jincheng East Station, Yuhuang Temple, East Passenger Station, Ju'e Mountain Scenic Area Parking Lot (After arriving at the parking lot, tourists can take the scenic area's small transportation directly to Qinglian Temple)
②Jincheng East Station - Dayang
Via stations: Jincheng East Station, Yuhuang Temple, Dayang Ancient Town
✅ Yuhuang Temple in the Imperial City / Yuhuang Temple Painted Sculpture and Mural Museum ‼️With checkpoint certificate‼️
🎫Tickets: None
🕛️Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
🎮️Game-like scene: Twenty-eight constellations
The date of construction of Yuhuang Temple is unknown, and it was rebuilt during the Northern Song Dynasty. The "top stream" in the temple is the Yuan Dynasty Twenty-eight Constellations painted sculptures in the Twenty-eight Constellations Hall in the west wing of the backyard, with different shapes and distinct personalities. In addition, there are ancient buildings, murals, inscriptions, and wood carvings from different periods such as Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.
✅ Xiaonancun Erxian Temple
🎫Tickets: Free
🕛️Opening hours: Subject to the opening hours on the day
🎮️Game-like scene: Erxian culture
Erxian Temple is a unique temple in Jin Southeast. The Xixi Erxian Temple that appears in the game is in Jincheng, just like Xiaonancun Erxian Temple. Erxian refers to the two sisters of the "Le family". The shrine in the main hall of Xiaonancun Erxian Temple is a "Tian Gong Lou Ge" building, which is a masterpiece.
✅ Qinglian Temple ‼️With checkpoint certificate‼️
🎫Tickets: None
🕛️Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
🎮️Game-like scene: The official documentary mentions Qinglian Temple, but does not specify the specific shooting elements. Tourists with sharp eyes can explore.
Qinglian Temple was first built during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, and it was named after the Sakyamuni Buddha sitting on the lotus seat in the temple. It is divided into the upper temple and the lower temple. The lower temple is the old site of the Tang Dynasty reconstruction. There are six Tang Dynasty painted sculptures in the Maitreya Hall, which are unique in the sea of milk. Qinglian Temple is at the foot of Ju'e Mountain, and you can visit it together.
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Day2️⃣Jincheng-Changzhi
🚥Traffic:
🚄Take high-speed rail/EMU [Jincheng East] to [Gaoping East], the journey takes about 10 minutes. There is a bus line to Tiefo Temple at Gaoping East Station.
🚅Take high-speed rail [Gaoping East] to [Changzhi South], the journey takes about 18 minutes.
🚌It is recommended to rent a car or charter a car from Changzhi City to Pingshun County.
✅ Gaoping Tiefo Temple
🎫Tickets: None
🕛️Opening hours: 9:00-17:30
🎮️Game-like scene: Painted sculptures
Tiefo Temple was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty, and it was named after an 8-meter-tall iron Buddha statue in the temple. There are also twenty-four statues of the heavens in the Buddha Hall, each of which is impressive! Tiefo Temple was not open to tourists, but now there are 500 daily visitor quotas (closed on Mondays), which can be booked online.
✅ Faxing Temple
🎫Tickets: None
🕛️Opening hours: 9:00-17:30
🎮️Game-like scene: Not yet known
Faxing Temple was first built in the first year of Shending of the Later Liang Dynasty, renamed Guangde Temple in the Tang Dynasty, and renamed Faxing Temple in the Northern Song Dynasty, which has been used to this day. The temple now houses relics such as inscriptions, Song Dynasty painted sculptures, Tang Dynasty stone pagoda, and Tang Dynasty lamp pagoda. The twelve Song Dynasty painted sculptures of the Yuanjue in the Yuanjue Hall are known as the "Crown of Song Dynasty Bodhisattva".
✅ Chongqing Temple (with checkpoint certificate)
🎫Tickets: None
🕛️Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
🎮️Game-like scene: Song Dynasty painted sculptures
Chongqing Temple was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty. The existing Tianwang Hall, Thousand Buddha Hall, Three Great Bodhisattva Hall, Dizang Hall, Reclining Buddha Hall, etc. The temple houses more than 300 painted sculptures from all dynasties, including eighteen Song Dynasty painted sculptures of Arhats in the Three Great Bodhisattva Hall, known as the "Crown of Song Dynasty".
✅ Guanyintang
🎫Tickets: None
🕛️Opening hours: Not yet open, expected to resume at the end of September
🎮️Game-like scene: Hanging sculpture/painted sculpture (similar)
Guanyintang was built in the Ming Dynasty. There are more than 500 statues in the hall of Guanyintang, which is only 60 square meters. There are painted sculptures and hanging sculptures on the three walls, roof, brackets, beams, doors, and windows of the hall, including gods from the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. The colors are dazzling and visually stunning.
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Day3️⃣Changzhi
✅ Longmen Temple
🎫Tickets: Adult ticket reference price 20r/person
🕛️Opening hours: Subject to the opening situation on the day
🎮️Game-like scene: Not yet known
Longmen Temple was first built in the Northern Qi Dynasty, and it has been renovated through multiple dynasties. It is the only architectural complex in China that brings together buildings from the Five Dynasties, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties.
✅ Yuanqi Temple
🎫Tickets: Adult ticket reference price 10r/person
🕛️Opening hours: Not yet open
🎮️Game-like scene: Not yet known
The date of construction of Yuanqi Temple is unknown. The Qinglong Pagoda was built in the Song Dynasty, and it was expanded and renovated many times. The existing buildings are mainly from the Tang and Song Dynasties, including the Xian Pavilion, the Mahavira Hall, the Side Hall, the Qinglong Pagoda, etc.
✅ Dayun Courtyard
🎫Tickets: Adult ticket reference price 20r/person
🕛️Opening hours: 9:00-18:00
🎮️Game-like scene: Not yet known
Dayun Courtyard was first built during the Five Dynasties period, and it is one of the rare surviving Five Dynasties wooden structures. The Maitreya Hall houses the only surviving Five Dynasties Buddhist mural in China, the "Vimalakirti Sutra Transformation". The existing buildings include Tianwang Hall, Great Buddha Hall, Three Buddha Hall, East and West Wing Rooms, etc.
✅ Tiantai Nunnery
🎫Tickets: None
🕛️Opening hours: 9:00-18:00
🎮️Game-like scene: Not yet known
The date of construction of Tiantai Nunnery is unknown. Some say it was built at the end of the Tang Dynasty, and others say it was built during the Five Dynasties. It is the earliest surviving Buddhist temple of the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism. Now only the main hall and a stone tablet remain. The beam structure and brackets of the main hall have a Tang Dynasty style.
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Day4️⃣Return
📌Food recommendation:
🥢Jincheng: Jincheng Top Ten Bowls, Jincheng Stir-fried Liangfen, Jincheng Rolled Thin Mo, Jincheng Pulled Noodles, Youmo, Clear Soup Hele, Gaoping Top Ten Bowls, Gaoping Fried Tofu, etc.
🥢Changzhi: Changzhi Liangfen, Huangmi Lianggao, Qinyuan Youmian, Changzi Stir-fried Cake, Changzhi Luomian, Wuxiang Stir-fried Millet, Guomian, etc.
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❤️Changzhi also boasts the most magnificent section of the 800-li Taihang Mountains, the "Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon". Friends with ample time can enjoy the scenery of Taihang Mountain! Next stop, we will bring you the [8-day Self-driving Route] travel strategy!
Picture source:
Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism
Shanxi Cultural Tourism Media Center
Shanxi·China
NoraHaugen
Shanxi Jincheng, I'm tired of saying "impressive".
Who would have thought that Jincheng in Shanxi has 72 national cultural relics protection units! We spent two and a half days and visited 15 national cultural relics protection units to get a rough idea of the essence of Jincheng's national cultural relics protection units. The word "impressive" was always on our lips, and we were tired of saying it! Without further ado, let's share our itinerary and travel tips~
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📍 Jincheng 2~3-day National Cultural Relics Protection Unit Essence Route:
Day 1: Zezhou Dai Temple - Xiaonancun Erxian Temple - Qinglian Temple - Yuhuang Temple - Fucheng Guandi Temple - Xilimen Erxian Temple - Chongming Temple
Day 2: Youxian Temple - Xianweng Temple - Wangbao Erlang Temple - Dinglin Temple - Gaoping Iron Buddha Temple - Xixi Erxian Temple - Kaihua Temple
Day 3: Yangtoushan Grottoes - Go to Changzhi
(PS. We drove ourselves, but our schedule was quite tight. If you're worried about not having enough time, you can adjust it.)
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Here are some of our favorites~
🔻Xiaonancun Erxian Temple
The exquisite and intricate wooden palace and pavilion of the Northern Song Dynasty are breathtaking and leave you speechless. The large wooden structure is also impressive.
🔻Qinglian Temple
Upper Temple: The Buddha and Bodhisattva in the Sakyamuni Hall and the Sixteen Arhats in the Luohan Hall are all masterpieces of Northern Song Dynasty colored sculptures.
Lower Temple: The Tang Dynasty sculptures are simple and ancient, and the Song Dynasty proportions are perfect.
🔻Yuhuang Temple
Finally saw the Twenty-Eight Constellations! Yuhuang Temple is very popular and has many visitors. There are also many exquisite colored sculptures, Chengtang Hall, Yuhuang Hall, Thirteen Yao Stars, Twelve Yuanchen... All open, don't miss it😭.
🔻Chongming Temple
Originally closed, thanks to the cultural relics protection officer who came back to open the door. The moment the door opened, the oldest surviving Northern Song Dynasty wooden structure came into view, with its deep eaves and Tang Dynasty style, so moving that I almost cried!
🔻Xianweng Temple
Coming to Zhang Guolao Temple, I saw the murals on the walls, which are well preserved. The "Tang Xuanzong Taishan Fengchan Tu" is a masterpiece.
🔻Gaoping Iron Buddha Temple
It's too 🔥, you can't make an appointment online, but you can queue up on the spot to get a number. The Twenty-Four Devas are so beautiful, I queued up several times and finally saw enough.
I came out and bought iron plate shabu-shabu bean skin, sat under the tree and watched the Iron Buddha Temple eat bean skin, which felt like a time travel.
🔻Kaihua Temple
The Mahavira Hall is a Northern Song Dynasty building, and the Northern Song Dynasty murals in the hall are colorful and known as the "清明上河图" of murals. The cultural relics protection officer was very enthusiastic.
🔻Yangtoushan Grottoes
Highly recommended! The Northern Dynasty grottoes scattered in the mountains are very impressive. The process of finding the grottoes is also very interesting.
🚗Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car is recommended.
🛌Accommodation: It is recommended to stay in Jincheng and Gaoping City.
🥘Food: Lige Zha is delicious! It's made with vermicelli, meat, and cabbage, and it's especially fragrant. Meatball instant noodles are also very fragrant, recommended.
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👇Tips:
Jincheng is too real, all of the above cultural relics protection units are free to visit (except Dinglin Temple, which requires a ticket to the Daling Mountain Scenic Area). Cultural relics protection work is not easy, so it is recommended to make a donation.
NoraThompson52
2024 Cultural 'Summer' Journey (Sixteen): Millennium Green Lotus, Long-lasting Buddhist Charm—Qinglian Temple
Qinglian Temple is located halfway up the Xiashi Mountain, 17 kilometers southeast of Jincheng City. It was founded by the famous Northern Qi monk Master Huiyuan during the Tianbao period (550-559 AD) and was initially named 'Xiashi Temple'. In the sixth year of Tang Xiantong (807 AD), it was granted the name 'Qinglian Temple' by imperial decree.
Qinglian Temple is divided into the upper and lower temples. The lower temple is the ancient Qinglian Temple, one of the earliest temples of the Maitreya Pure Land Sect of Buddhism in China, renowned as 'Literary Qinglian, Martial Shaolin'. The upper temple is also called 'Fuyan Zen Temple', a site of the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism.
The temple houses Wei stele inscriptions, Tang sculptures, iron brush calligraphy, Song structures, and Ming and Qing murals and poetry.
Among them, the six Tang dynasty colored sculptures are particularly exquisite and unique in the country. The sweet 'Rudou Spring', the ancient 'Ginkgo Couple', the 'Mother and Child Cypress' symbolizing deep maternal love, the 'Pen Throwing Platform' that embraces beauty, and the 'Kuan Yue Pavilion' where one can enjoy the scenic beauty of the world from Jue Mountain are all notable features.
Our group of four visited the Arhat Hall. The security guard inside said, 'How many of you are there? A maximum of five people can enter at a time.'
Upon entering the hall, sunlight happened to shine inside. The sixteen Arhat statues in the hall are from the Song dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji. During Emperor Huizong's period, the Song dynasty transitioned from prosperity to decline, facing the storms of the era and the instability of the empire.
From the faces of the Arhats, one can glimpse the suffering of the times and see their profound introspection through their expressions.
The Shakyamuni Hall in Qinglian Temple currently houses four Song dynasty sculptures: Shakyamuni Buddha in the center, flanked by two disciples (Ananda and Kasyapa) and two Bodhisattvas (Manjushri and Samantabhadra), with the statue of Kasyapa on the east side missing.
The ancient Qinglian Temple also houses six Tang dynasty colored sculptures (originally seven, with one damaged), and the only Tang dynasty seated Buddha statue in China, characterized by the plump and graceful features typical of Tang sculptures. The vividness of these sculptures is beyond words.
Only by being there, quietly observing, can one feel the compassionate gaze that transcends over a thousand years, remaining unchanged through time.
A reminder: When visiting ancient sites in Shanxi, it is common to encounter closed doors, especially for non-popular ancient buildings. It is advisable to check in advance. Qinglian Temple and Yuhuang Temple currently require reservations due to the control on the number of people allowed in the halls.
Fork in the Road
Qinglian Temple in Jincheng, Shanxi
Qinglian Temple, originally named Xieshi Temple, is located in Xieshi Mountain on the north side of Si Nan Village, 17 kilometers southeast of Jincheng City, Shanxi Province. The temple is named after the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha seated on a lotus pedestal inside. The ancient temple was built during the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi dynasty; the new temple was constructed in the second year of the Tang Dynasty's Dahe era (828 AD) with Tang Dynasty sculptures and Song Dynasty architecture! It is a treasure of ancient Chinese architecture! Unfortunately, there are no longer any monks to worship, and it has become an ancient architectural museum!
Max876~Hayes
The Sui and Tang Dynasties' Buddhist capital, Qinglian Temple, is now officially open!
Qinglian Temple, originally named "Xiaoshi Temple," got its name for being located at the foot of Xiaoshi Mountain in the southeast of Zezhou County. It was founded by the Northern Qi monk Huaiyuan Chan Master (523-592). Qinglian Temple is divided into the ancient temple and the new temple, which are about a kilometer apart and belong to the Pure Land Sect and the Tiantai Sect, respectively. The Daochang New Temple was named "Fuyan Chan Courtyard" by imperial grant in the third year of the Song Dynasty's Taiping Xingguo era (978).
The construction of Qinglian Temple is closely related to the activities of the founder of the Pure Land Sect, the eminent monk Huaiyuan, who was active here. The ancient temple was initially built during the Northern Qi Dynasty's Tianbao era and was completed through the efforts of the Northern Qi, Northern Zhou, Sui, and Tang Dynasties, serving as a Maitreya Pure Land Sect monastery. The main buildings of the lower temple include the main hall and the south hall. The main hall houses a broad Buddha altar with six Tang Dynasty colored sculptures still in existence, which are among the seventy-plus sculptures from three locations of the Tang Dynasty found nationwide. The south hall has twelve colored sculptures, which continue the Tang style, focusing on realism and vividly conveying emotions.
The main buildings of the upper temple include the Heavenly King Hall, the Sutra Tower, the Shakyamuni Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Arhat Hall (Guanyin Hall), and the Ksitigarbha Hall, among others. The Shakyamuni Hall was built in the fourth year of Song Zhezong's Yuanyou era (1089), with Song Dynasty inscriptions on the stone door frames and column heads, and the hall preserves Song Dynasty colored sculptures; the Guanyin Hall and Ksitigarbha Hall are remnants of the Northern Song Dynasty, with the latter two reconstructed during the Qing Dynasty. The colored sculptures are also Song Dynasty relics, redecorated during the Ming Dynasty and modern times.
During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, I went to Qinglian Temple with volunteer friends for a study tour. Now, the Tang Dynasty colored sculptures in the lower temple and the Northern Song Dynasty colored sculptures in the upper temple can be photographed (except for the Ksitigarbha Hall and the Throwing Pen Platform, which continue to undergo maintenance), and other buildings are normally open!
JamesBrown
Secluded in the mountains lies the ancient Qinglian Temple—in Jincheng, Shanxi
Qinglian Temple is located southeast of Jincheng city, surrounded by Jue Mountain and Dan River. The temple is divided into the Upper Temple and the Lower Temple.
The Lower Temple's key attractions include a pagoda and colored sculptures, while the Upper Temple is noted for its colored sculptures and ancient buildings.
Temples in Shanxi convey a solemn and rustic atmosphere. Besides the ancient buildings and colored sculptures being genuine artifacts, the most significant difference is that the Buddha statues are placed on a platform at the center of the main hall, offering a closer and more impactful experience.