Tianheng Mountain Wolong Temple

Tianheng Mountain Wolong Temple

Tianheng Mountain Wolong Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Tianheng Mountain Wolong Temple

Wolong Temple is situated at the southwestern end of the Tianheng Mountain Scenic Area. It has a planned land area of 40,000 square meters and a construction area of 10,000 square meters. The temple primarily enshrines Bhaisajyaguru (the Medicine Buddha), one of the Three Great Buddhas, along with the Sunlight Bodhisattva, Moonlight Bodhisattva, and twelve Divine Generals of Medicine. According to the temple’s positioning, it is also known as the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World. Once fully completed in 2010, Wolong Temple will become the largest Medicine Buddha temple and practice site in China. Major attractions in the scenic area include:

Temple Area Attractions: The temple buildings follow the traditional layout of ancient Chinese architecture — centered around a main axis with symmetrical wings on both sides. Key halls include the Mountain Gate Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Bell and Drum Towers, Medicine Buddha Hall, Mahavira Hall, Scripture Depository, as well as side halls such as the Guanyin Hall, Manjushri Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Zen Hall, Repentance Hall, Buddha Recitation Hall, Cloud Water Hall, and monks’ dormitories. The temple architecture features the Qing Dynasty style, exuding splendor and grandeur. Its Buddhist philosophy is to help people ward off disasters, prevent illness, prolong life, ensure safety, bring blessings, and relieve all physical and mental suffering.

The Medicine Buddha Hall houses the largest indoor bronze gilt statue of the Medicine Buddha in China. The pure height of the statue is 9.30 meters, commemorating the Medicine Buddha’s birthday (the 30th day of the 9th lunar month). The total height of the statue is 20.06 meters, symbolizing its enshrinement in 2006. The Medicine Buddha Hall is 36 meters high, 55 meters wide, and 32 meters deep, covering an area of 1,760 square meters. The hall is three stories tall with a double-eave hip-and-gable roof, presenting a majestic appearance. On either side of the hall are the Sunlight Pavilion and Moonlight Pavilion.

Lingyun Crossing and Three Saints Bridge Attractions: At the front of Wolong Temple on Tianheng Mountain lies a naturally formed valley, about 80 meters wide, named Lingyun Crossing. It originates from a story in Journey to the West: when Tang Sanzang was on his journey to the West to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, the final leg led him to Lingyun Crossing. After crossing it, he attained Buddhahood. Lingyun Crossing symbolizes the boundary between the mortal world and the Buddha realm.

The Three Saints Bridge arches over this valley, serving as a passage between the mortal world and the Buddha realm. The three-arched bridge represents the Three Saints of the East. The bridge is 70 meters long and 16 meters wide. The stone railings are carved with various auspicious creatures from the Buddhist realm, such as stone lions, elephants, qilins, and turtles. The bridge’s surface features relief carvings of dragons and phoenixes in various forms, enhancing the ethereal atmosphere of the Buddha realm. Walking across the Three Saints Bridge gives visitors the sensation of riding the clouds and mist, as if entering a celestial paradise, and evokes a sense of the mystery, solemnity, and majesty of the Buddha realm.

Taiping Pagoda Courtyard Attractions: At the northwestern end of Wolong Temple, a nine-story Buddhist pagoda is planned to be built, named Taiping Pagoda, symbolizing everlasting peace and harmony for Heilongjiang and Harbin. Once completed, Taiping Pagoda will be hailed as the “Number One Buddhist Pagoda” in Longjiang and become one of the important landmark structures on Tianheng Mountain.

Foshan Square Attractions: To the east of Wolong Temple lies Foshan Square, whose main features are a giant statue of the Medicine Buddha and the Lotus Wish Pedestal. The grand, solemn, and compassionate image of the Medicine Buddha embodies the boundless power of Buddhism and its wish to benefit all sentient beings. The Lotus Wish Pedestal features three lotus thrones, which do not have statues on them but implicitly represent the Three Medicine Buddhas. As the Buddhist saying goes, “If you believe, they are there; if you don’t, they aren’t.” Visitors can imagine the central lotus throne occupied by the Medicine Buddha, with the Sunlight Bodhisattva on the left holding the sun as a symbol of light, and the Moonlight Bodhisattva on the right cradling the moon as a symbol of coolness.

Longteng Square Attractions: At the foot of the mountain lies the expansive Longteng Square. A man-made lake named “Nine Dragons Pool” has been excavated at the site of the stone-carved screen wall. Inside the pool are nine coiling dragons, surrounded by 56 dragon heads spouting water, symbolizing China’s 56 ethnic groups. This attraction promotes Chinese dragon culture while complementing the stone-carved screen wall, integrating the mountain and the base into a unified whole. The square is equipped with related facilities, including a large parking lot, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping areas, herbal medicine shops, food outlets, and more.

Wolong Temple on Tianheng Mountain promotes the Buddhist concept of harmonious culture in the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World, creating a sacred site of this realm. Meanwhile, the scenic area’s pleasant natural environment, profound cultural atmosphere, and deeply spiritual ambiance offer visitors a transcendent experience for both body and mind. It is destined to become a world-renowned Medicine Buddha practice site and a sacred Buddhist destination.