Yuanshan Zhenru Chan Temple

Yuanshan Zhenru Chan Temple

Yuanshan Zhenru Chan Temple is a branch of Jiuhua Mountain in Anhui, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. It is located within the provincial-level Yuanshan Forest Park, covering an area of over 100 acres, and is also a national AA-level tourist attraction. There are two side-by-side mountain gates facing east, with the north and south gates spaced 99 meters apart. Both are antique-style, three-arched memorial gate structures. The central arch is inscribed with the four large characters “Zhenru Chan Temple,” handwritten by Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association of China.

Entering through the temple’s north gate, you’ll find a wide driveway beneath your feet. To the left, right next to the enclosing wall, lies a triangular liberation pond covering about 10 acres. The pond is protected by wall railings and stone-reinforced slopes, with clear blue waves rippling gently.

To the right of the driveway is a three-story, 11-room guesthouse. On the first floor, the central hall is the “Kṣitigarbha Hall,” where the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha of Jiuhua Mountain is temporarily enshrined. To the left of the guesthouse is a five-room kitchen that also houses the vegetarian dining hall. To the right is the “Jade Buddha Hall,” which houses three rare jade Buddhas brought from Myanmar by donors from Tianjin. The hall is majestic, leading down 81 steps made entirely of white marble railings. Diagonally opposite the Jade Buddha Hall stands East China’s largest stone Buddha, standing 21 meters tall and weighing a thousand tons. It is composed of 135 individual Buddha statues and is named “Amitabha Buddha.”

Following the driveway beside the open-air Buddha and making a slight turn leads directly to the Great Buddha’s Hall on the mountain. Along the way, you’ll pass a square liberation pond. Though not large, it is deep, with white cement railings along the edge. At each corner of the pond, stone-carved dragons peek out, adding a delightful touch.

Climbing a straight flight of 129 steps from below, flanked by white marble railings, you’ll find a large platform every 27 steps. The first platform features a stone-carved Nine Dragons Wall at its center; the second has a Nine Phoenixes Wall. On either side of the platforms stand stone-carved qilin (mythical creatures).

The Great Buddha’s Hall enshrines three large Buddha statues at its center, flanked by stone-carved Eighteen Arhats on both sides. Behind them are the “Guanyin Sea Island” with Manjushri and Samantabhadra. The hall is equipped with colorful lights, presenting a magnificent and resplendent sight.

To the west of the Great Buddha’s Hall is the “Great Compassion Hall,” where the central figure is the Four-Faced Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva. On either side are statues representing the 84 great acts of compassion and the 32 manifestations. At the back are statues of the Six Patriarchs of Chinese Buddhism, all exquisitely crafted and truly awe-inspiring.

To the east of the Great Buddha’s Hall is the Great Compassion Hall.

Yuanshan Zhenru Chan Temple has received total investments of over 50 million RMB and is increasingly revered by people from all walks of life, both domestically and internationally. On May 22, 2003, [redacted] inspected Zhenru Chan Temple and took a commemorative photo with the abbot, Shi Guosheng. On June 4, 2004, [redacted], General Secretary of the Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Jiuhua Mountain and took a photo with the temple’s abbot, Master Shi Huishen. These visits have added immeasurable prestige to Yuanshan Zhenru Chan Temple.

Yuanshan Mountain has undergone four name changes. It was first called Mianshan, then Liangshan. After Confucius visited, it was renamed Yuanshan, and later, when Emperor Qianlong traveled to the south, he changed its name to Yusong.

Yuanshan Mountain boasts beautiful scenery, resembling two dragons playing with a pearl. Zhenru Chan Temple is built within this embrace of the twin dragons.

Yuanshan Zhenru Chan Temple has become one of the key tourist attractions in Gaochun County and is regarded as the backyard garden of Nanjing.

Welcome tourists from home and abroad to visit the Yuanshan Scenic Area.