Baolin Tower

Baolin Tower

Baolin Tower

Baolin Tower is situated within the 150-square-kilometer Baolin Tower Natural Tourism Scenic Area in the southern section of Yiwulu Mountain, the foremost mountain in Northeast China. Surrounded by rolling peaks, lush forests, and azure skies, the area features cascading waterfalls, murmuring streams, serene valleys, and the cheerful sounds of bees, butterflies, birds, and deer. Gazing into the distance, one sees faint green mountains veiled in drifting clouds, the vastness of the South Sea, and the winding curves of Ling Water Bay. The ancient Baolin Temple is perched like exquisite pavilions on the cliffs of this breathtaking wonderland, resembling a celestial palace suspended in the clouds. Like a radiant pearl, it showcases nearly 5,000 years of mystical charm amidst the ancient yet civilized landscapes of western Liaoning, spreading enchanting legends that captivate the heart.

The world-renowned ancient Baolin Temple is located 60 kilometers south of Jinzhou City and 35 kilometers north of the ancient city of Yizhou, offering convenient transportation and making it an ideal destination for sightseeing, vacationing, and worship. Throughout history, from the time of Emperor Yan, a total of 26 emperors and over 120 high-ranking officials, ministers, and generals have visited the ancient Baolin Temple. The most frequent and longest-staying visitor was Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. In the 29th year of his reign, he spent 45 days at the ancient temple to escape the summer heat and left behind the invaluable poetic work "Eight Scenic Spots of Baolin."

The age of the ancient Baolin Temple is unknown; the mountain stands where the tower is, and the temple lies ahead.

The painted pavilion does not decay despite wind and rain; the old monk sleeps beside the lonely pine.

The towering pillar supports the thousand-foot tower; alone, one steps through several layers of heaven.

The untoppled well resists the general’s horse; the standing stone echoes the duke’s whip on the high mountain.

Mist shrouds the Rabbit Mountain peak; fog envelops the Solitary Buddha summit.

Chessboard stones bear traces of monks’ walks; the Immortal Bridge retains hoofprints.

The Golden Rooster Peak is close to the South Sea; Baolin Tower stands atop Yiwulu Mountain.

Poetic admiration for the Ling River scenery; ancient incense smoke in the northern frontier.

Historical figures such as the tasteless Daoist of the Jin Dynasty, Emperor Li Shimin and Xu Maogong of the Tang Dynasty, and Wu Sangui of the Ming Dynasty have all left precious inscriptions. The area around Baolin Tower is rich with anecdotes about famous personalities, local legends, myths, and curious tales. Examples include Emperor Yan taking refuge in Stone House Mountain, striking the Stone Gate, toppling the Well, the manifestation of Skanda, the appearance of Arhats, Emperor Shunzhi burning incense, the millennia-old mystery of the hidden Buddha, Wu Sangui erecting a stele at Baolin Tower, Governor Wang fulfilling a vow, Zhang Zuolin drawing lots, Emperor Tang unveiling something, Emperor Wen repairing the temple, Emperor Qianlong escaping the summer heat, and three righteous men rescuing Xue Rengui—there are no fewer than a hundred such stories. These illustrate the long, mysterious history of the ancient Baolin Temple and its past influence and glory.

The ancient Baolin Temple was first built 2,600 years before the Common Era. According to the "Tale of the Ancient Temple of Yanhan," the fourth-generation Flame Emperor (Shennong) Yuwang, having lost to the Yellow Emperor, retreated in defeat to the Central Plains and fled to Yunmeng, eventually settling in a stone house on Yiwulu Mountain to recuperate. After the Flame Emperor passed away, his descendants built a temple on the site of his former residence under the direction of the Cloud Dream Real Man to honor him and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. The temple primarily enshrined Pangu, the Heavenly Sovereign, the Earthly Sovereign, the Human Sovereign, the Five Dragon Sovereign, Shennong, Nüwa, and Flame Emperor Yuwang. At the same time, a Divine Granary of Shennong (the tomb of the Flame Emperor), the Eight-Trigram Divine Granary Twin Towers (a seven-tiered, single-eave twin-tower structure), and the Divine Granary Stele were constructed to the right of the ancient temple. This is the earliest human cultural landscape in China and even the world—a global first, built more than 300 years before the Egyptian pyramids.

After Liu Bang ascended the throne, in 202 BCE, to weaken the power of the Chu King Han Xin, he pretended to tour Yunmeng in October and decreed that the ancient Flame Emperor Temple be converted into a two-story main building with east and west side halls. Statues of his father, Taigongwang, and mother, Liu Wen, were added to the halls. The Han Tower essentially became Liu Bang’s family temple. It was then that the Yanhan Ancient Temple truly took shape.

In the 17th year of the Eastern Han Dynasty's Guangwu era, 41 CE, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu ordered the Governor of Liaodong, Jiao Tong, to build a grand ancient temple monastery on the prominent high platform in front of the steep cliff below Baolin Tower on the mountainside, in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed during the eastern campaigns against the Xiongnu and Xianbei. The main hall enshrined a golden statue of Maitreya Buddha; the west side hall enshrined Flame Emperor Shennong Yuwang, and the east side hall enshrined Han Gaozu Liu Bang. The ancient temple monastery served as the main venue for monastic activities, hosting Buddhist ceremonies, preaching sessions, and receiving pilgrims and visitors.

In the 19th year of the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan era, October 645 CE, Emperor Li Shimin personally led a military campaign. The great general, Duke Yuchi Gong, led troops here, and his wife Lady Bai gave birth to a son in the ancient temple, naming him Baolin. To commemorate the victory in the eastern campaign and Yuchi Gong’s achievements, Emperor Li Shimin renamed the ancient temple Baolin Tower. He then commissioned Xu Maogong to design and Yuchi Gong to supervise the renovation, expanding the Han Tower from two to four stories. The east and west side halls were remodeled into auxiliary towers: the first floor became the Mahavira Hall, the second the Daxing Hall, the third the Da’an Hall, and the top floor the Lingyan Pavilion. The ancient temple monastery was renamed Baolin Monastery, and Zhi Kai’s disciple Xin was appointed abbot, introducing the Tiantai sect of Buddhism to Liaoning. From then on, Baolin Tower became entirely a site for Buddhist activities, while the Taoists relocated to the newly built Qingyun Palace.

The ancient Baolin Temple houses 760 statues of deities made from gold, electrum, silver, copper, iron, jade, stone, wood, and clay, along with 12 stone stelae. The existing second floor of Baolin Tower is a remnant from the 19th year of the Zhenguan era, with a history of 1,359 years. The most prosperous period of Baolin Tower was during the Ming Dynasty. In the Yongle era, the temple had over 200 monks and more than 30 support staff, along with 420,000 mu of temple land. It was one of the earliest Buddhist sacred sites in western Liaoning. During Buddhist events, monks and laypeople from both China and abroad gathered, filling the air with incense, the sounds of bells and drums, and continuous chanting. The last abbot of Baolin Tower, Xinran, disappeared in the early years of liberation.

Over nearly 5,000 years, the ancient Baolin Temple has endured many trials, experiencing periods of prosperity and decline. Especially in modern times, it suffered several catastrophes, leaving only the crumbling remains of its highest two-story structure. Today, in this era of peace and prosperity, Baolin Tower has welcomed a new lease on life. To restore its historical appearance, the People’s Government of Yixian County established a Baolin Tower Development Leading Group chaired by Zhang Zhigui, Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee and Executive Deputy County Magistrate, mobilizing the entire county to develop and construct Baolin Tower. Plans include investing 130 million yuan to restore the temple’s historical architecture and the legendary Eight Scenic Spots within three years. A tourist resort and leisure villas will also be built outside the Stone Gate.

Address: Baolin Valley, Shangbaolin Village, Zhangjiabu Township, Yixian County, Jinzhou City

Type: Mountainous ancient site

Opening hours:

8:00–16:00; 7:30–16:30 during Labor Day and National Day holidays.

Ticket information:

Gate price: 30.0 yuan