Mount Emei Puxian Temple

Mount Emei Puxian Temple

Mount Emei Puxian Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

I. History of Mount Emei

Mount Emei Puxian Temple is located in Tangzha Town Subdistrict, Gangzha District, Nantong City. Legend has it that the temple’s “Golden Palace Hall” was built here in the late Sui Dynasty. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, monks from Mount Emei in Sichuan traveled a great distance to Langshan in Nantong to meet Monk Sengjia (later revered as the “Great Sage Bodhisattva”). Failing to encounter him on the mountain, they descended and pursued him, only to be trapped by wind and snow at night. When the monks from Mount Emei saw a red glow in the north, they found this solitary hall to stay in. Later generations say this monk was the “Puxian Bodhisattva,” and thus the hall came to be called Mount Emei. By the early Northern Song Dynasty, when the ancient Tongzhou was first established as a city, Emperor Taizong of Song granted permission, and in the second year of Emperor Zhenzong’s reign (999 AD), the Mount Emei hall was designated as Puxian Temple. There is a saying: “Mount Emei came before Tongzhou City.” At the end of 1991, with approval from the Nantong Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and the Nantong Buddhist Association, Mount Emei Puxian Temple was permitted to open to the public. In 1992,

Mr. Zhao Puchu, then President of the Buddhist Association of China, discovered during his research that Mount Emei in Nantong had long been recorded in historical texts as one of the Eight Little Mount Emeis in China. He was delighted and personally inscribed the name “Puxian Chan Temple.”

II. Current Status of Mount Emei

Mount Emei Puxian Temple has a history of over 400 years and is one of Nantong’s renowned Buddhist sacred sites. The temple covers an area of approximately 35 mu (about 2.3 hectares), with a construction area of around 15,000 square meters and total investment of about 50 million yuan. The temple complex includes structures such as the Puxian Hall, Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, Mahavira Hall, Scripture Depository, east and west wing rooms, and a vegetarian dining hall. Facilities are also provided for spiritual cultivation, including Dharma halls, a release pond, and scripture chanting pavilions. The temple gives an overall impression of grand scale and profound cultural significance. On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, worshippers flock here to offer incense and pay homage. In recent years, Mount Emei Puxian Temple has become an indispensable part of Nantong’s Buddhist culture and is set to become a new highlight for tourism in our city.

III. Long-Term Development Plan for Mount Emei

With the completion and opening of the Sutong Bridge, Nantong’s importance within the Yangtze River Delta has grown steadily, playing an increasingly pivotal role. In recent years, Nantong has continuously intensified its external publicity efforts, creating new urban highlights and attractions. The emergence of numerous national-level tourist attractions has added vibrancy to the city’s tourism industry, bringing vitality and creating unprecedentedly favorable conditions for its vigorous development.

The Mount Emei Scenic Area is situated in the core zone of Nantong’s northern new town, adjacent to the century-old town of Tangzha. It boasts rich cultural heritage and distinctive natural resources. Coupled with years of promotion and visitor-focused development, the scenic area’s visibility has been steadily increasing. Currently, the long-term development plan for the Mount Emei Scenic Area has taken initial shape. The site spans 300 mu, with plans to construct various Buddhist cultural facilities and supporting tourism infrastructure. Future development will adhere to principles of adaptive design and economic efficiency, balancing near-term construction with long-term development, comprehensive ecological conservation with moderate utilization. The focus will be on eco-tourism, preserving existing cultural heritage and temples intact; development will be adapted to local conditions without damaging natural landscapes or ecosystems. Infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and water supply will be rationally planned, along with appropriately scaled tourism public facilities, ensuring the scenic area forms a harmonious and unified whole. The construction period for the Mount Emei Scenic Area is three years, with priority given to foundational projects such as roads, water supply, electricity, and fire prevention. Ancillary facilities and supporting projects will follow, and the area will commence operations after passing inspections.

IV. Project Evaluation for Mount Emei

The development of the Mount Emei Scenic Area aligns with national industrial policies and local economic development needs. It helps fill the gap in eco-tourism within Nantong’s northern new town. Through the implementation of infrastructure and supporting projects, the scenic area will become a comprehensive destination integrating sightseeing, entertainment, leisure, health care, and cultural education. The development of Mount Emei Scenic Area will not only deliver social and ecological benefits but also yield strong economic returns, making it a prime choice for investors.

Tangzha Town Subdistrict: Tangzha Town Subdistrict is located in the core area of Nantong’s northern new town, covering an area of 17.66 square kilometers. It has a registered population of over 45,000 and a resident population of more than 89,000, comprising 5 urban communities and 7 rural communities (the 5 urban communities are Yongtai Community, Yiyuan Community, Xinhua Community, Xiyangqiao Community, and Gongyuan Community; the 7 rural communities are Zhadong Village Community, Henghe Village Community, Huaqiang Village Community, Chang’an Village Community, Jian’goutou Village Community, Gaodian Village Community, and Xinyuan Village Community). As an important part of the “one city, three towns” layout in China’s first modern city… More details about Tangzha Town Subdistrict++