Baoligen Temple

Baoligen Temple

Baoligen Temple is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

The Baoligen Temple Scenic Area is located at the southern foot of Chagan Baoligen Mountain in Yamen Village, Daban Town, Fumeng County. The scenic area consists of three mountains, one valley, and one temple. The temple was first built in the 6th year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1801 AD), and it earned its name from the mysterious “Three Springs Sacred Wells,” which emit white mist (known as Chagan Baoligen in Mongolian, commonly called White Spring Temple in Chinese).

The Baoligen Temple (White Spring Temple) Scenic Area is situated at 121°53′03″ east longitude and 42° north latitude. It belongs to the foothill hilly region of the Yiwulvshan Mountain Range, with an elevation of 505.5 meters. It stretches 1.6 kilometers from east to west and 1.5 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 2.5 square kilometers. The geological formation features a continental climate, with an annual precipitation of 570 mm, an annual evaporation of 1942 mm, an average annual temperature of 7.1°C, the first frost occurring in late September, and a frost-free period of 153 days. The soil is mountainous brown forest soil, relatively deep in layers, with some areas featuring steep bare rocks and stone waterfalls. The scenic area combines natural landscapes such as rugged peaks, steep cliffs, thousand-year-old locust trees, phoenix parasol trees, sacred springs, mysterious caves, rare flowers and plants, ancient tombs, historical relics, and cliff carvings, along with cultural elements, forming a mountainous scenic destination. It serves as an ideal spot for enjoying pastoral views, conducting archaeological research, engaging in ethnic and religious activities, singing folk songs and ballads, and experiencing Mongolian ethnic customs. Major attractions include the White Spring Temple, the Tomb of the Lady of the Liao-Jin State, the Guan Yu Temple, cliff carvings, thousand-year-old locust trees, and unique caves and ice formations.

The White Spring Temple, commonly known as the “Small Cave,” corresponds distantly with the “Large Cave” — the Pu’an Temple, which lies 4 kilometers away. Halfway up the mountain behind the White Spring Temple, a small stream flows down the slope, originating from springs. Tracing the source, the springs emerge alternately from beneath massive rocks or among willow groves, babbling cheerfully. Among them lies a pool where spring water converges. Unlike the surrounding greenish mountain waters, this pool’s water appears white, hence the name “White Spring.” The spring water is clear, sweet, and excellent for brewing tea. It has also been used by monks throughout history for drinking and purification, earning the title of “the Number One Spring of the Northern Frontier.”

The White Spring Temple was first built in the 6th year of the Jiaqing reign (1796 AD). When Emperor Jiaqing ascended the throne, a grand ceremony was held as per tradition. At that time, there were 60 renowned Hutuktu lamas qualified to participate in the celebration. During the roll call, the lama from the Maitreya Temple in Eastern Mongolia was absent. The Panchen Lama then petitioned the Emperor, who granted permission for the fourth-generation lama from Pu’an Temple, who had accompanied him, to take part, thus completing the required 60 participants. This lama ranked sixth in a sermon competition, greatly pleasing Emperor Jiaqing, who honored him with the title “Morigen Kanbu Hutuktu.”

Nestled by mountains and water, the White Spring Temple enjoys a serene environment, embraced by layers of lush pines and cypresses, and dotted with peculiar rocks and rare plants. The entire terrain resembles a “winnowing basket,” surrounded by mountains on the east, west, and north sides. From south to north, it gradually narrows from an open plain to steep peaks. The temple itself is built against the mountain and rock, presenting a majestic presence. In summer, the area is covered in rich greenery, with beautiful mountain and water views, the murmuring of springs, the gurgling of streams, and spectacular cliffs. Beside the White Spring Temple stands an ancient locust tree that particularly captures attention. With a low trunk and a circumference of 3.3 meters, it grows alone in the deep mountains, as if narrating the long history of Little Cave Mountain. Despite over a thousand years of harsh weather, it remains lush and vigorous, exuding resilience and spirit.

While constructing the main hall of the White Spring Temple, the fourth-generation lama also oversaw the building of the Guan Yu Temple in front of the main hall. The Guan Yu Temple is a three-room Tibetan-style structure, with a central seated statue of Guan Yu, flanked by standing statues of Guan Ping and Zhou Cang, each holding a sword and broadsword respectively. The figures are majestic and solemn, and the surrounding walls are painted with 24 colorful murals depicting the loyal and heroic life of Lord Guan.

Within the Baoligen Temple Scenic Area, there are several Buddha statues carved into massive rocks, featuring figures from Tibetan Buddhism such as Tsongkhapa, Shakyamuni, Tara, Guan Yu, and the Buddha of Infinite Life.

The “Epitaph of the Lady of the Liao-Jin State” is currently housed in the Liaoning Provincial Museum. The “Tomb of the Lady of the Liao-Jin State” was discovered in November 1949 on Little Cave Mountain. The tomb yielded a set of Chinese epitaphs, as well as ceramics, bronze and ironware, and ornaments. The epitaph, carved from green sandstone, is relatively well-preserved. The cover is square, with each side measuring 93.5 cm. The top center has a 46 cm square flat surface inscribed with eight rows of eight regular script characters in intaglio: “Epitaph of the Late Lady of the Jin State,” forming two lines. The edges are beveled, and the cover is 15 cm thick overall, with edges 5.5 cm thick. The cover is plain without decoration, though the upper left corner is slightly damaged. The stone slab is also square, matching the cover in size, and 13 cm thick. The edges of the slab are inscribed with a straight groove, inside of which the text is carved. The text consists of 30 lines of regular script, with 30 characters per line, totaling 835 characters.

On Little Cave Mountain, there is a mysterious cave near a massive rock. The cave entrance is about 60 cm in diameter, surrounded by dense, lush growth of thorny vines, apricot trees, and shrubs, creating a mystical atmosphere. The depth of the cave is unknown, pitch-black and seemingly bottomless. Legend says no one has ever reached the end of the cave; those who venture a few meters down find the opening narrow and the interior widening, with cool breezes and complete darkness, deterring any further exploration. About 3,000 meters from the mysterious cave lies a strange area where a cluster of willows and a massive rock create two distinct worlds. Sitting on the rock, one can see a stream flowing out from beneath the willows. Below the rock, wild celery and cattails thrive in vibrant green, while just a meter away from the willows above, the rock remains covered with snow about a foot thick, giving off a refreshing chill. This ice doesn’t melt completely until mid-May — the reason remains unknown.

Daban Town: Daban Town is located in the southern part of Fumeng Mongolian Autonomous County, bordering Furon Town to the east, Guohua Township to the south, Qinglong Mountain in Xinmin Town to the west, and the Dabaigou Tunnel, which separates it from Shuiquan Town in Xihu District to the north. The town covers a total area of 13,800 hectares, including 2,209 hectares of arable land. Daban Town administers 6 administrative villages and 70 villager groups. The town has a total of 3,569 households and a population of 12,513, including 11,688 agricultural residents and 825 non-agricultural residents. Ethnic Mongolians make up 52% of the population, along with other minority groups such as Han and Manchu. Daban Town... More detailed information about Daban Town++