Dalian Zhengming Temple

Dalian Zhengming Temple

Dalian Zhengming Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Zhengming Temple is said to have been originally built in the sixth year of the Zhenguan era during the Tang Dynasty (632 AD). Its original site was located at the foot of “Northwest Mountain,” at the border between Wangtun in Zhengming Temple Village, Daliujia Subdistrict, and Heshangtun in Shicao Village—today’s Zhengming Temple Village. The temple was not large and served as a Buddhist place of worship. Every year on the tenth day of the third lunar month, a temple fair was held at Zhengming Temple. Unfortunately, during the early stages of the Cultural Revolution, in the campaign to “Smash the Four Olds,” the temple was completely destroyed, leaving no trace behind. The only evidence that a temple once stood here is the name of the village itself—Zhengming Temple Village.

In the new century, with the support of the local government and residents, Zhengming Temple was rebuilt in 2005 at the northern foot of Biandan Mountain, in the Tiger Gully area of Zhengming Temple Village. In the eighth month of the lunar calendar in 2006, the temple’s consecration ceremony was held, and it came to be known as “Zhengming Chan Temple.” At the same time, the Dalian Tianhou Palace was also constructed here. As a result, Zhengming Temple now spans over 50,000 square meters and has become a shared space for both Buddhism and Taoism, with its abbot being a Taoist priest. The entire temple complex faces south and is built along the mountain slope, overlooking the Yellow Sea and backed by the scenic Biandan Mountain. The temple consists of nine classical-style buildings: the Mountain Gate (also the Heavenly King Hall), Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Mahavira Hall, Wealth God Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Dalian Tianhou Palace, Guanyin Hall, and Dining Hall. On the southern side of the Bell Tower stand two tall granite steles inscribed with the “Record of Zhengming Chan Temple” and the “Ode to Zhengming Chan Temple,” documenting the history of the temple and the process of its reconstruction.

Upon entering the temple’s Mountain Gate, the Bell Tower is on the right and the Drum Tower on the left. The roofs of the Mountain Gate, Bell Tower, and Drum Tower are all adorned with magnificent glazed tiles. Inside the Bell Tower hangs a large cast iron bell, but unfortunately, there is no drum inside the Drum Tower. Walking up the steps, the easternmost building is the Guanyin Hall, which faces west. To the south of the Guanyin Hall is the Dining Hall, which also faces west. To the west of the Guanyin Hall is the Dalian Tianhou Palace, which enshrines Mazu. Temples dedicated to Mazu can be found in many coastal areas of China, but the entrance lintels of this Dalian Tianhou Palace are inscribed with “Tianhou Palace” and “Dalian Tianhou Palace.” Regrettably, the characters for “Tianhou Palace” are written from left to right, which appears quite uncultured and detracts from the ambiance. To the west of the Dalian Tianhou Palace is the main hall of Zhengming Chan Temple—the Mahavira Hall. Its east side hall is the Manjusri Hall, while the west side hall has no specific name. To the west of the Mahavira Hall is the Wealth God Hall, which is comparable in size to the Mahavira Hall—an uncommon feature in temples, as the Mahavira Hall is usually the largest structure. In modern Chinese society, however, nothing is impossible. The east side hall of the Wealth God Hall is the Dragon King Temple, and the west side hall has no specific name. To the west of the Wealth God Hall is the Ksitigarbha Hall, which faces east.

Scenic Area Address: Tiger Gully, Zhengming Temple Village, Daliujia Town, Jinzhou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province

Transportation: Take a bus from Dalian to Jinzhou District, then transfer to bus 807 to reach the temple.