Fuer Temple

Fuer Temple

Fuer Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Fuer Temple is located on Snake Cave Mountain in Nianzishan District, Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province. In 1987, Snake Cave Mountain was designated by Qiqihar City as a municipal-level key protected Paleolithic site and nature reserve. In the summer of 2000, when district leaders inspected Snake Cave Mountain, they discovered images of Buddha appearing on the stone walls, with solemn and vivid expressions that inspired deep reverence.

In 2001, at the strong request of local devotees and with the approval of the local government and religious authorities, formal construction of a temple began on Snake Cave Mountain, and the sacred site was named “Fuer Temple.”

The temple’s master plan covers an area of approximately 20,000 square meters and includes classical-style structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, Bell and Drum Towers, Chanting Hall, monks’ quarters, guest quarters, dining hall, and cremation kiln. Under the leadership of the abbot, Venerable Master Xuanqing, and with the blessings of the Three Jewels, the support of devout followers from all regions, and assistance from the local government, the east and west side halls, Mahavira Hall, monks’ quarters, and parts of the surrounding wall have now been completed. A 7.8-meter-tall outdoor bronze statue of the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva has also been erected.

With multitudes of monastics gathered and the Buddhas descending, the celestial beings rejoice. To complete the temple as soon as possible and benefit the local people, the abbot, Venerable Master Xuanqing, leads the monastics in practicing frugality, dedicating all offerings from devotees to the temple’s construction.

However, the project requires substantial funding, far beyond what one person can bear alone. We sincerely appeal to all great protectors, lay patrons, and kind-hearted individuals from all walks of life to contribute with joyful hearts, cultivate blessings and wisdom, and accomplish the merit of the Three Jewels. We hope that esteemed members of society and devoted Buddhists will generously donate to plant the roots of goodness, increase blessings and wisdom. Your generous contributions will be recorded in our temple’s annals, celebrated for generations, and remembered forever. Guided by the principle that “resources come from all directions and are used for all directions to accomplish shared goals; many give and many benefit, forging countless connections,” we earnestly invite all protectors and virtuous patrons to join in the spirit of joyful giving, cultivate the practice of generosity, and sow fields of merit. At the same time, the resident monastics of Fuer Temple pray on behalf of all generous donors before the Buddha, so that the living may increase in blessings and wisdom, avert disasters, and find relief, while all sentient beings may be freed from suffering, attain joy, and swiftly realize enlightenment. As the scriptures say: “On the path to heavenly realms, cultivating merit comes first; in the forest of merit, generosity is foremost!” This extraordinary endeavor is rare indeed, relying entirely on the support of virtuous patrons from all directions. Once Fuer Temple is completed, it will surely benefit the local community, allowing both nearby and distant beings to form karmic connections with the Buddha. The merit of supporting the temple’s construction will be boundless, bringing fulfillment to good wishes and abundant blessings.

Behind the temple, the Snake Cave Mountain scenic area features undulating peaks, bizarre rocks, and well-arranged attractions that blend seamlessly into a harmonious whole. Unique rock formations resembling turtles, oxen, frogs, dragons, lions, tigers, and monkeys display a dazzling array of lifelike shapes. Notably, the natural Great Buddha formation has a head that is 4 meters high and 3 meters wide, closely resembling the image of the Buddha, and has been verified by the Buddhist Association as “rare throughout the country.” The scenic area is rich in poetic inscriptions and stone carvings, with simple and elegant pavilions, terraces, towers, and towers that embody a profound cultural heritage. Snake Cave Mountain is also the site of Paleolithic cultural discoveries, where stone knives, stone axes, stone tools, and mammoth tusks have been excavated. In 1987, it was designated by the Qiqihar Municipal People's Government as a “Municipal-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.”

Snake Cave Mountain has an ancient legend. Wei Yulan, a renowned scholar of the Qing Dynasty, recorded in *Old Tales of Dragon City*: “There is a long snake cave on Nianzishan Mountain, with a huge rock covering its entrance. Peering through a crack in the rock, the cave is pitch black and seems bottomless. It is said that in the early years of Emperor Guangxu’s reign, a snake emerged from the cave, poked its head out to drink from the Yalu River, while its tail remained inside the cave—its enormous size can be imagined.” Another account states: when Russians were constructing the Chinese Eastern Railway, a snake emerged and was seen by them. They tried to shoot it with a cannon but missed. Enraged, the snake struck the rocks, killing several Russians. The locals regarded it as a deity and came to pray, and thus it was also called the “Immortal Cave.” This is how Snake Cave Mountain got its name.