Huludao Shengshui Temple

Huludao Shengshui Temple

Huludao Shengshui Temple is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a key cultural relic protection unit in China.

Shengshui Temple is located at the southern foot of Lotus Mountain, south of Yangjiazhangzi Town in Huludao City. It gets its name from an underground spring within the temple.

The temple was first built in the 59th year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1720), covering an area of about 10,000 square meters with a north-south length of 104 meters and an east-west width of 96 meters.

The entire temple complex consists of a main courtyard and east and west side courtyards. Tianyuan Palace is the temple’s large mountain gate building, featuring a square base, a round top, and three stories — the first and second floors are square while the third is octagonal, topped with a sharp spire. On the east and west sides of the courtyard are bell and drum towers. In the center of the courtyard stands the four-story, pagoda-style Biyun Palace, with corner towers at each of its four corners. The Sacred Spring is located in the west side courtyard, with spring water flowing around a lotus pond.

The entire temple embodies characteristics of both northern and southern Chinese temple styles, blending the features of both regions into a unique architectural ensemble.

A spring gushes from the southern foot of the mountain, clear, sweet, and flowing year-round. In 1714 (the 53rd year of the Kangxi reign), the eminent monk Chonghui settled here to cultivate himself and gather alms to build the temple, naming it Shengshui Temple. It has since been continuously expanded into a grand ancient architectural complex, designated as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit and also a well-known tourist destination. A pair of iron lions stand outside the main gate. Upon entering, you’ll find Tianyuan Palace, a three-story building with a round top and square base, constructed in accordance with Taoist philosophy of “the round heaven and the square earth.” Behind the palace is a lotus pond, with jade railings engraved with the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars. On either side of the pond are bell and drum towers facing each other. To the west is the Mingxin Tower, with an inscription on its plaque that reads “Enlighten the Mind and See One’s True Nature,” and a golden rooster atop its roof heralding the dawn. Behind the lotus pond stands the majestic and richly artistic Biyun Palace, a four-story structure of great artistic value. It houses statues of the Jade Emperor, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of ancient times, and the Four Heavenly Kings in the four corner towers. The hillside behind holds a courtyard where the main hall, the Mahavira Hall, enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha. The east hall is dedicated to the Medicine Buddha, and the west hall to Amitabha Buddha. The many Buddha statues all display solemn magnificence. Incense smoke curls from iron tripods, and the sounds of bells and chimes create an atmosphere as if one has entered the Pure Land. Descending the mountain to the spring, the “Dragon Spouting Sacred Water” spectacle is truly magical. Visitors eagerly cup the “sacred water,” creating a lively and enthusiastic scene. Some even take photos in front of the water-spouting dragon as souvenirs.

Proceeding to the west courtyard, the main hall houses a bronze statue of the Eleven-faced Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Guanyin, standing 3.47 meters tall and weighing 1.5 tons, considered the temple’s most treasured relic.

Lotus Mountain Shengshui Temple, from its architectural design and statue arrangements to its painted artistry, is rich in traditional cultural significance. Each visit offers new insights and knowledge.