Shoushan Qingfeng Temple

Shoushan Qingfeng Temple

Shoushan Qingfeng Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Qingfeng Temple Scenic Area

Located in Shoushan Town, the county seat of Liaoyang County, and situated between the cities of Liaoyang and Anshan, the Qingfeng Temple Scenic Area enjoys a prime geographical location and convenient transportation. Shoushan is the foremost peak among the Qianshan Mountains and is a historically renowned mountain, often honored as the "Mountain Where Emperor Taizong of Tang Once Stayed." The Qingfeng Temple Scenic Area lies adjacent to the provincial highway Lia’An Road. Since ancient times, this area has been a battleground contested by armies of various dynasties. Many significant historical battles — such as Sima Yi’s campaign against Gongsun Yuan, Emperor Taizong of Tang’s eastern expedition against Goguryeo, and the Russo-Japanese War — took place here. On the southern slope of the mountain stands Qingfeng Temple, acclaimed as the “Foremost Temple Beyond Shanhaiguan.” Built in the fifth year of the Longqing era during the Ming Dynasty (1571), its mountain gate, main hall, rear hall, and east and west side halls are all structures dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. These surviving halls also form one of the most well-preserved ancient architectural complexes in the province. The wall of the mountain gate features a stone stele erected in the seventh year of the Xianfeng era (1857). The main hall still retains the hip-and-gable roof style typical of the Ming Dynasty and is a representative example of Ming-era architecture preserved in the province. Behind the main hall grows a white-bark pine tree, a rare sight in China. In 1988, the temple was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit. Wang Erlie, a celebrated literary talent of the Northeast, inscribed the plaque reading “Incense of Lotus Blooms Far,” and his student once knelt in worship here, which brought great fame to Shoushan Qingfeng Temple for a time. During the Qing Dynasty, the temple housed dozens of monks, nearly a hundred Buddha statues, and a large collection of scriptures and ritual vessels, attracting a continuous stream of worshippers who came to chant sutras and offer incense.

A son of Wang Erlie once knelt in prayer here, which contributed to the temple’s fame in its heyday. During the Qing Dynasty, the temple had dozens of monks, nearly a hundred Buddha statues, and a large collection of scriptures and ritual vessels, with worshippers coming in an endless stream to chant sutras and offer incense.

The serene Qingfeng Temple is embraced by nature — in the rainy season, streams murmur gently; in summer, flowers and trees flourish in abundance. The verdant pines and cypresses remain green all year round, while red railings and vermilion beams shimmer brilliantly. The temple windows are partially hidden, the sounds of bells and chimes drift softly, every corner exudes exquisite charm, with painted beams and carved rafters. One might describe it as “windows open to gentle breezes amid small towers, curtains drawn as slow carts pass through drifting mist” — a heavenly realm untouched by worldly dust. Natural wonders of Shoushan such as “Woodcutters’ Songs on Shoushan,” “Ancient Qingfeng Temple,” “Manjusri Temple and Guanyin Pavilion,” “Shoushan Watchtowers,” “Carved Stones Commemorating Merits,” “Shoushan Duels,” “Generals’ Stone Markers,” and “Shoushan Holding the Moon” — collectively known as the Eight Scenic Spots of Shoushan — are also fantastic destinations for today’s travelers.

Renowned mountains weather storms, and ancient temples endure the passage of time. After enduring numerous trials and restorations, in 1993, thanks to the concerted efforts of provincial, municipal, and county authorities, over one million yuan was invested to renovate Qingfeng Temple. Stone lions were carved, the mountain gate and ornamental archways were repaired, cliff inscriptions were engraved, stone and iron incense burners were purchased, mountain paths were paved, and a parking lot was built. Covering an area of more than 5,000 square meters, Qingfeng Temple now stands once again on Shoushan, resplendent in its simple, natural beauty. In recent years, with the temple’s restoration, visitors and pilgrims have come in an unending stream. The temple’s unique historical and cultural legacy has given this ancient site vast potential for development in the new century.

Major historical battles, ancient battle sites, and relics provide a profound cultural foundation for establishing a museum of ancient warfare here. With convenient transportation and a superior location nestled among urban centers, the historically famed Qingfeng Temple enjoys widespread renown. Shoushan is celebrated as the “Mountain Where Emperor Taizong of Tang Once Stayed,” rich in both history and legend, and home to the Eight Scenic Spots of Shoushan and other abundant natural resources. All these elements offer excellent prospects for developing Liaoyang’s only tourism project centered on war and battle exhibitions.

According to the Liaoyang County Annals, in the fifth year of the Longqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1571 AD), Qingfeng Ancient Temple was rebuilt on the site of a Tang Dynasty temple at the southern foot of Shoushan, the foremost peak of the Qianshan Mountains. It underwent renovations again in the 44th year of the Qianlong era (1779 AD) and the 7th year of the Xianfeng era (1857 AD). The temple complex originally consisted of 37 structures, divided into front and rear courtyards, with side rooms on the left and right and cross-courtyards on the east and west. The total floor area was 2,638 square meters, covering a land area of 3,418 square meters.

The Qingfeng Temple Scenic Area is located in Shoushan Town, the county seat.

On either side of the mountain gate stand a bell tower and a drum tower, each with a pointed roof and upturned eaves, resembling the wings of a soaring bird — elegant and graceful in design. The main hall consists of three rooms, featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable wooden structure. The plaque above the door reads “Dreams of Qin, Awakening of Han,” while the plaque on the meditation room door reads “Incense of Lotus Blooms Far.” The couplet, “Ascend the great path to gaze afar at the lofty mountain standing alone; approach the meditation gate and slowly walk as if riding the wind,” is the calligraphy of Wang Erlie, a revered local scholar and titled official of Liaoyang (during the chaos of wartime, two of Wang Erlie’s plaques and the couplet were stolen and lost). Inside the hall are large tripod incense burners, ritual implements, stone carvings, water engravings, clay sculptures with colored paintings, and bronze artifacts. The walls feature ancient paintings such as “Carp Resting on Lotus” and “Shepherd Playing the Flute.” The rear hall also has three rooms, with a single-eave gable-and-hip wooden structure, covered with small tiles, featuring dripping eaves, upturned roof corners, and animal-shaped ridge ornaments. The doors and windows are all painted vermilion. During temple fairs, a continuous stream of devout men and women came to worship.

The entire structure of Qingfeng Temple is built from materials such as bluestone, blue bricks, pine wood, and lime. Its layout is well-proportioned, with skillfully crafted and elegantly spaced brackets. The vermilion railings and painted beams present a rustic yet majestic charm, offering beautiful scenery and a uniquely serene atmosphere. It is the only well-preserved ancient temple in the Liaoyang region. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was converted into a school; in 1955, it became the Fourth Workers' Sanatorium of Anshan City. Later, it served as a farm, chicken farm, school, and shelter, among other uses. It is now a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Liaoning Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units