Chonghua Temple

Chonghua Temple

Chonghua Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The temple was originally built in the fourth year of the Zhizheng era during the Yuan Dynasty (the Mentougou District Cultural Committee website states it was established in the Liao Dynasty and rebuilt in the fourth year of Zhizheng, 1344), and was named Qingshui Chan Temple. It was formerly the preaching site of Master Huanglong. Between the ninth year of the Xuande era and the second year of the Zhengtong era in the Ming Dynasty, the eunuch Wu Liang from the Directorate of Ceremonial donated funds for renovations, and Emperor Yingzong of Ming bestowed the name “Chonghua Chan Temple.” In the eighth year of the Chenghua era, a scripture depository and ten stupas were built. In the sixteenth year of Chenghua, Emperor Xianzong of Ming issued an imperial edict explicitly protecting Chonghua Temple. It was later destroyed by an earthquake, and now only ruins and six stone stelae remain, along with one cliff inscription. The original temple covered an area of over 60 acres and has a history of more than 600 years. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing water on one, the temple was once lush with trees all around. In front of the temple stood two ancient ginkgo trees towering into the clouds, which are over 800 years old. Currently, the temple buildings are in severe disrepair, with only ruins remaining. Behind the temple, several stone stelae are preserved, serving as historical witnesses to the temple’s rise and fall. The site is currently under restoration, and according to construction staff on-site, it is expected to reopen to the public in 2017.

Transportation

Get off at Chengzi Vocational High School Station and walk west all the way to reach the site.

Location

1000 meters west of Chengzi Village, Heping Road, Mentougou District, Beijing