Iron Tile Temple

Iron Tile Temple

The Iron Tile Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Beijing Municipality.

The Iron Tile Temple is located within the compound of the Hebei Town Government in Fangshan District, and is named for its roof entirely covered with iron tiles.

The Iron Tile Hall faces south and is backed by green mountains, with the Dashishi River lying before it. The temple grounds are shaded by lush ancient cypresses, and a clear spring gurgles behind the temple, creating an elegant landscape. The spring water flows year-round into the Dashishi River through underground channels. A plaque inscribed with the regular script characters “Iron Tile Zen Grove” is embedded in the lintel of the mountain gate; upon entering, there are two side halls on each side, all featuring thick eaves and flush gable roofs. The main hall is the Iron Tile Hall, originally built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty and renovated in the 32nd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty.

The Iron Tile Hall is a cylindrical structure, 6 meters high and 5.8 meters in diameter, with arched doors and windows. The roof employs a pyramidal design, with six ridges extending downward in six directions, dividing the top into six fan-shaped sections. The roof is entirely covered with 458 iron tiles. Each tile is 0.31 meters long and 0.13 meters in diameter. Many of the tiles bear inscriptions such as “Made at Bodhisattva Summit in the 10th year of the Zhengde era (1515)” and “Iron Tile Temple at Bodhisattva Summit, Mount Wutai.” The spire of the hall is capped with a precious bead, and the roof ridges and finial are also made of iron spikes, using approximately 3,000 kilograms of iron. Similar architecture is rarely seen in the world.

Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development

Hebei Village: Hebei Village is located 12 kilometers southwest of Yangcheng County and serves as the seat of the town government. It is the political, economic, cultural, and trade hub of Hebei Town. The village covers a total land area of 1,445 mu, including 945 mu of arable land, of which 700 mu are high-quality farmland. The village has a total of 429 households and 917 residents, including 490 laborers, 49 Party members, and a village committee leadership team of seven members. For a long time, the village Party branch and committee have consistently adhered to a people-oriented approach. Combining the characteristics of mountainous rural areas and the material and cultural needs of farmers, and guided by the Scientific Outlook on Development, they have unremittingly carried out activities to create a civilized and harmonious environment... Detailed information about Hebei Village ++

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Beijing