Heishan Temple

Heishan Temple

Heishan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Heishan Temple Scenic Area is located in Heishan Temple Village, Wenghong Town, Miyun County, on the southwestern side of the main Baihe Dam of the Miyun Reservoir, 16 kilometers from the county town. It is a newly developed tourism attraction in Miyun County, known for its natural landscapes and cultural charm.

The Heishan Temple Scenic Area features a "Daughter-in-law Cave." During the Yuanhe era of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Xianzong Li Chun entrusted a highly respected monk with selecting a site to build a temple and choosing monks to serve as his proxies in monastic life. The monk traveled across the northern mountains and rivers and discovered this place with murmuring streams, where he built the Yunfeng Monastery, commonly known as "Heishan Temple." By the time of Emperor Qianlong during the Qing Dynasty, monastic discipline at the temple had broken down, and the monks acted tyrannically toward local residents. They even constructed a "Hidden Chamber for Concealing Women," connected to a natural underground cave, within the temple grounds. Unable to endure the situation any longer, the local people reported it to the imperial court, prompting Emperor Qianlong to order Grand Secretary Liu Yong to investigate. Before departing, the emperor gave the verbal instruction, "Just give them a scare." However, Grand Secretary Liu took advantage of the homophonic pun in the emperor’s words and severely punished the corrupt monks. In the end, he set the temple on fire, burning it to the ground, leaving only the remnants of the cave still identifiable.

The Heishan Temple Scenic Area still has an "Azure Dragon Well," which is said to have been used by the monks for drinking water. The water level in this well is always higher than that of the streams on either side, remaining clear and neither drying up nor overflowing, regardless of drought or rainy seasons. The scenic area is covered by dense forests and high mountains, with a forest coverage rate of over 75%. In the peak of summer, the lush greenery is refreshing and pleasant. There are 25 species of trees, among which some rare and ancient trees are particularly unique. The thousand-year-old flat-top pine is a national first-class protected tree species. When viewed from different angles and distances, the size of the tree appears unchanged—an incredible sight. The ancient chestnut trees are another unique feature of Heishan Temple. Even after the first frost, the old chestnuts remain green, and even when they shed their leaves, they do not turn yellow. In late summer, the scenic area is abundant with peaches and apricots; in autumn, chestnuts and persimmons are fresh and plentiful. If you wish, be sure to try the water from the Azure Dragon Well—tests have shown it contains various trace elements beneficial to human health.

Address: Heishan Temple Village, Wenghong Town, Miyun District, Beijing