Dalian Songshan Temple

Dalian Songshan Temple

Dalian Songshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Dalian Songshan Temple is a Buddhist monastery originally built during the Tang Dynasty. Located beside Tangshan Street in Dalian’s busiest district—Xigang—it occupies a very small area and is an exceptionally compact sacred site.

Viewed from the outside, one mostly sees crumbling walls and half-closed broken doors, but those who look carefully can discern red-painted upturned eaves emerging from the decay, exuding a sense of ethereal grace. The street-facing gate is usually tightly shut and silent, save for the bold characters reading “Namo Amitabha Buddha” that stand upright on the wall. They neither come nor go, remaining unmoved amid the clamor and chaos of the city, embodying the serene composure of Buddhism.

Walking around the corner to the side entrance, you’ll find a narrow passageway so tight that two people can’t walk through side by side. Above it hangs a bright black lacquered plaque inscribed with the name “Songshan Chan Temple,” written by the venerable Master Puchu—a striking contrast to the humble exterior. Just ten steps inside the temple gate, turn right and you’re immediately faced with a large incense burner. Nearby is an incense table offering sticks of incense that worshippers can take freely to offer to the Buddha. In front of the burner is the Maitreya Hall, where the jovial, big-bellied Maitreya Bodhisattva sits smiling serenely at the various ways of the world. On either side of the Maitreya Hall are simple metal-clad rooms where lay caretakers handle various affairs. This was my first impression of Songshan Temple.

After visiting two or three times, I accidentally discovered a narrow passage next to the Maitreya Hall. Noticing no sign that read “No Admittance,” I cautiously walked through. To my surprise, behind the hall lay another world—an enclosed courtyard bathed in auspicious clouds, radiating a serene and blessed aura. At the center stands the Mahavira Hall, housing the majestic statues of the Three Buddhas of the Past, Present, and Future, flanked by solemnly standing arhats. The east and west halls are somewhat smaller, enshrining the Eastern Trinity and the Western Trinity, respectively. Behind these is the Sangharama Hall. No matter their size, all four halls are bright, resplendent, and immaculately pure. Though separated from the street by just a wall, no noise from traffic or pedestrians can be heard. Prayer mats are laid out across the narrow courtyard, seemingly allowing worshippers to bow in all directions simply by turning around on the spot. There are no trees or unnecessary decorations in the yard, yet the space is packed with devout devotees who, despite the crowd, remain perfectly orderly. You’ll also often see volunteers, young and old, busily helping out. Strangely enough, once you step into this courtyard, you immediately feel the extraordinary grace and compassion of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Worldly desires and delusions melt away like ice under the sun, leaving your mind clear and free of distractions. It’s common to feel a pang of loss upon leaving the temple grounds.

By a stroke of luck and with the guidance of a fellow practitioner, I had the rare opportunity to visit the residence of the nuns at Songshan Temple and pay my respects to the teachers.

Songshan Temple has only six nuns, three of whom are in their eighties or nineties. The teacher I visited on this occasion was one of the younger ones. Her living conditions were even more austere than I had imagined. The nuns’ quarters consist of a row of old, low, single-story houses. Stepping inside, it’s pitch dark—the dim electric light barely reaches three feet ahead. Feeling my way to the teacher’s room, I found a space of just ten square meters furnished with four plank beds and a cabinet. Aside from some basic belongings, there was nothing else. The teacher was kind and gentle, softly inquiring about our spiritual practice and occasionally offering a few kind words of guidance. Looking into her warm, loving smile, I felt an overwhelming urge to cry.

“A mountain need not be high; it is famous so long as there is a deity. Water need not be deep; it is spiritual so long as there is a dragon.” Liu Yuxi’s “Inscription on a Humble Dwelling” muses on landscapes, immortals, and dragons—but perhaps he never knew of Songshan Temple, where “a temple need not be grand; it is luminous so long as there is the Buddha.” Had Liu been here, he might have renamed his work “Inscription on a Humble Temple.”

Scenic Area Address: Tangshan Street, Xigang District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province

Transportation: Take a bus to Xigang District in Dalian, then transfer to bus routes 1021, 1022, 1023, 505, 506, 515, 517, 529, etc., to reach the temple.