Huludao Lingshan Temple

Huludao Lingshan Temple

Huludao Lingshan Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

The Lingshan Temple scenic area is located southwest of Liangshuijingzi Village, Shanshenmiaozi Township, Lianshan District, Huludao City, Liaoning Province, 48 kilometers from downtown Huludao. The core scenic area of Lingshan Temple covers 12 square kilometers and features not only a self-contained complex of temple buildings but also over 100 scenic spots. Currently, the Lingshan Temple scenic area is a national 3A-level tourist attraction, a patriotic education base in Lianshan District, Huludao City. The forest park where it is located is a provincial-level forest park in Liaoning Province and was rated as one of Liaoning’s “Top Ten” forest parks in 2009.

Lingshan Temple was built in the 11th year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1807). The temple is divided into upper and lower courtyards. A total of 29 structures were built, including an octagonal pavilion, Cihang Tower, Jade Emperor Hall, Chonglou, Bottomless Cave, Dutian Hall, forming a grand ancient architectural complex of both Taoist and Buddhist heritage. The existing lower courtyard still retains structures such as Tianqi Temple, Bell and Drum Tower, Sun Tower, Moon Tower, Tianjun Tower, Vajra Tower, Cihang Tower, and Wanfo Tower. Tianqi Temple forms its own courtyard, with the main hall’s couplet reading: “Bestow titles upon the Lord of Heaven and Earth; oversee the deeds of the King of the Underworld.” Outside the gate stand a pair of stone flagpoles, with a grey-plastered “golden dragon coiled around a jade pillar” in the middle — the dragon’s scales are raised, its round eyes and large mouth vivid, and its steel-wire whiskers slightly quivering, creating a strikingly lifelike image. Stepping out of the temple gate onto the stone slab bridge leads to various Buddhist halls, with a cross-shaped pavilion at the intersection. The outer walls of the Sun Tower and Moon Tower are painted with the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars. Each tower is a two-story hip-and-gable structure with front porches, and their doorways feature grey-plastered couplets, making them a gathering place of exquisite calligraphy. The tallest structure is Cihang Tower, located in the middle of the sky bridge. Its lower level is beneath the bridge, consisting of a twelve-sided solid platform with outer walls molded into dragons and auspicious clouds. The solemn and sacred aura is awe-inspiring. Cihang Tower is the main building of Lingshan Temple, with three levels: the first level is beneath the sky bridge, a twelve-sided solid brick pillar with relief carvings of colorful dragons and auspicious clouds that are strikingly realistic and commanding respect. The second level is a hexahedral tower made of blue bricks, with differently sized round arched doors on each face. The third level enshrines Cihang Daozun (Guanyin Bodhisattva), flanked by the Dragon Girl and the Boy Sudhana, while two tall and mighty deities stand below the shrine. The roof is adorned with a grey-plastered roc sculpture, holding a Buddhist pearl in its beak, wings spread and gazing downward, incredibly lifelike. The orientation of Cihang Tower follows the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) layout, with eight gates positioned towards the eight cardinal directions. Each lintel is molded with a four-character phrase representing the name of the trigram for that direction: the east gate “Zhenhua Paradise,” the west gate “Duize Western Extremity,” the south gate “Liju Five Buddhas,” the north gate “Kanying Qujiang,” the northeast gate “Genxiang Immortal Mansion,” the northwest gate “Qiianfeng Dragon and Tiger,” the southeast gate “Xunhui Heavenly Gate,” and the southwest gate “Kunlin Qishan.” These Bagua phrases have drawn the attention of many scholars and diviners, yet none have provided a definitive explanation, making them an intriguing mystery.

The upper courtyard area features rugged terrain, with a naturally formed large stone shelter in the middle, its roof covered with grotesque rocks. Few of the temple structures in the upper courtyard have been preserved. Some caves, weathered by time, are known as Bingliu Cave, Dajia Cave, and others, with the deepest called Wuji Cave, which can accommodate a thousand people, and springs often drip from cracks in the cave ceiling. The cave entrance, hanging midway up the mountainside, is called Nantianmen (South Heavenly Gate). From a distance, it resembles an open gate, and when sunlight shines through, the cave glows with a red-purple hue, appearing even more mysterious and unfathomable.

In front of the lower courtyard gate, there are two massive boulders, each four stories high, abruptly rising from the ground. Their tops feature open cavities, resembling two celestial beings embracing, guarding the entrance to the Lingshan fairyland. They also look like a couple embracing and gazing at each other, the imagery strikingly lifelike. Known as “Husband and Wife Rocks,” the stones are inscribed with eight large characters: “Relying on Each Other for Survival, Standing Firm and Unyielding.” The author and exact date of the inscription remain unknown. Beneath the boulders is a spring, its clear and sweet water flowing year-round. It is said to be the sacred water of Lingshan, and visitors often drink a few sips.

Protected area: For the upper courtyard, the protected zone is within 40 meters east, 50 meters south, 40 meters west, and 50 meters north of the center of the Wuji Cave entrance; for the lower courtyard, it is within 50 meters east, 220 meters south, 140 meters west, and 500 meters north of the center of Cihang Tower.

Construction control zone: The secondary construction control zone extends 500 meters east, 1200 meters south, 2000 meters west, and 500 meters north beyond the protected area; the tertiary construction control zone extends 1000 meters beyond the secondary control zone.

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Liaoning Province