Tianbao Mountain Hidden Dragon Temple

Tianbao Mountain Hidden Dragon Temple

Tianbao Mountain Hidden Dragon Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Hidden Dragon Temple is located on Tianbao Mountain in Cha'hua Village, Shangfeng Town, Jiangning District, Nanjing City. It was first built in the third year of the Jianwu era (27 AD) during the Eastern Han Dynasty under Emperor Guangwu. Also known as Cha'hua Temple, its current structures were reconstructed in December 2000.

The origins of Hidden Dragon Temple are not well documented, but legend has it that it is related to Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han, Liu Xiu. It is said that in the late Western Han Dynasty, the powerful Wang Mang usurped the throne, declared himself emperor, and renamed the dynasty "Xin." Not long after, uprisings broke out across the country against the Xin regime, and Liu Xiu, a powerful local figure from Nanyang and a member of the Western Han imperial clan, also joined the rebellion. Legend has it that during a battle against Wang Mang’s forces, Liu Xiu suffered a major defeat and became separated from his troops. Riding alone, he was being chased by enemy soldiers. At a critical moment, he encountered a young woman wearing wildflowers in her hair by a small bridge on the roadside, who helped him hide in a bridge culvert and escape the pursuit. Later, after Liu Xiu defeated his rivals and ascended the throne, he honored the flower-crowned maiden as the "Flower-Adorned Goddess" and built a "Flower-Adorned Temple" at the site of the encounter. He also named the small bridge where he had hidden "Hidden Dragon Bridge."

Today’s Hidden Dragon Temple is nestled among three mountains, surrounded by beautiful scenery—lush peaks, dense forests, winding paths, and serene valleys. The mountain range extends for dozens of kilometers, with bamboos swaying in the wind and pine trees rustling through all four seasons, offering stunning landscapes. It is an ideal place for local Buddhist devotees to engage in religious activities. The Hidden Dragon Bridge in front of the temple has been listed as a cultural heritage site under the protection of Jiangning District.

Transportation Guide

Address: Tianbao Mountain, Cha'hua Village, Shangfeng Town, Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province

By Bus: Take the Shangcha Line bus in Jiangning and get off at the Cha'hua stop.