Yushan Baoyan Chan Temple

Yushan Baoyan Chan Temple

Yushan Baoyan Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Baoyan Chan Temple is situated at the center of the Yushan Baoyan Ecological Sightseeing Park and is a major highlight within the scenic area. The Yushan Baoyan Ecological Sightseeing Park is located in the verdant valleys of Baoyan Bay at the southern foot of Jiangsu’s Yushan National Forest Park, spanning 200 hectares, and is known as the “First Bay of Yushan.” The park features spectacular forest scenery dominated by vast expanses of natural mixed coniferous and broadleaf forests. It also includes various ecological gardens such as a three-dimensional fruit and tea cultivation garden, a premium fruit tree garden, an ornamental bamboo species garden, and a bayberry variety garden. Additionally, there is a heritage steam train for educational tours, and the dining area hosts over ten distinctive farm-style restaurants. It has now become a comprehensive tourist destination integrating agricultural production, ecological sightseeing, forest tourism, leisure vacations, cultural entertainment, and science education—offering visitors a wonderful place to get close to and reconnect with nature. It is also the most richly forested natural ecological park within Jiangsu’s Yushan National Forest Park.

Originally named Yanfu Chan Monastery, Baoyan Chan Temple was first built during the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, boasting a history of over 1,500 years. Throughout the Southern Song Dynasty as well as the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the temple was repeatedly built and destroyed. During the Republican era, the monk Tan Yue restored the temple, giving its halls a completely renewed look. However, the temple was demolished during the Cultural Revolution.

Historically, one king and three emperors formed profound Buddhist connections with Baoyan Temple. From its inception, the monastery flourished due to the profound Buddhist teachings of its eminent monks and its serene location in the First Bay of Yushan. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Qian Liu, the King of Wuyue, donated 500 taels of gold to construct a stupa within the temple grounds, instantly propelling Yanfu Chan Monastery to fame and attracting numerous devotees who came to burn incense and pray—those without fortune sought it, and those with fortune sought to extend it. In the Duan'gong era of the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizong summoned the eminent monk Xibian from Yanfu Chan Monastery to the capital Kaifeng to preach the Dharma, personally bestowing upon him the Dharma name “Master Huiming” and a purple robe. In the third year of the Chunhua era, Emperor Taizong again granted a collection of Buddhist scriptures to the monastery. During the Tianxi era, Emperor Zhenzong renamed the monastery Baoyan Chan Monastery and bestowed an inscribed plaque. In the TianSheng era, Emperor Renzong specially gifted a bronze statue of the Heavenly Emperor of Benevolence and Sageliness for enshrinement at Baoyan Chan Monastery. As a result, Baoyan Chan Monastery gained widespread renown and became a celebrated temple in the Jiangnan region.

Throughout the dynasties, Baoyan Temple, Xingfu Temple, Zanghai Temple, and Sanfeng Qingliang Temple have been known as the Four Great Temples of Yushan. According to folklore, each of these four temples governs a specific domain—one for the heavens, one for the earth, one for peace, while Baoyan Chan Temple is dedicated to the God of Wealth. Moreover, the temple’s location in Baoyan Bay is backed by the spiritual Ling Peak to the north and faces Shanghu Lake to the south, sheltered from harsh winds with warm waters flowing continuously, abundant in species, and especially renowned for its local bayberry produce. As a result, the local folklore in Changshu has long included the tradition of visiting Baoyan to “admire the bayberries, offer incense during the planting season, and pay respects to the God of Wealth.”

A prosperous era sees the restoration of temples. With the development of the Yushan Ecological Sightseeing Park, the reconstruction of Baoyan Chan Temple was included in the “Changshu Tourism Industry Development Plan Outline” by the municipal Party committee and government. According to the design plan, the reconstructed Baoyan Temple will cover a construction area of over 6,000 square meters and occupy 20 mu of land. The Mahavira Hall will be grand and exquisitely designed, with a construction area of more than 700 square meters, making it the most imposing Mahavira Hall in Changshu to date. The Singapore Buddhist Association specially donated an 11-ton white jade reclining Buddha to Baoyan Chan Temple. On April 28, 2002, a grand consecration ceremony for the temple’s Buddha statues was held. On the day of consecration, the Buddha’s light shone brightly, drawing crowds as bells and drums echoed both inside and outside the temple, with incense smoke lingering between heaven and earth... Today, the revitalized ancient Baoyan Temple, hidden within the lush greenery of the Yushan Ecological Sightseeing Park, serves not only as a sacred religious site for pilgrims but also as a spiritually inspiring destination for visitors seeking tranquility and enlightenment.

Yushan Subdistrict: The Yushan Subdistrict of Changshu City covers an area of 62.7 square kilometers, with a permanent population of 207,000, including 137,000 registered residents. Yushan Subdistrict is positioned as the core area for all-for-one tourism, integrating mountains, water, and cityscapes.

The Jiangsu Provincial Government (Document No. Su Zheng Fu [2017] No. 103) and the Suzhou Municipal Government (Document No. Su Fu Fu [2017] No. 62) have recently issued approvals regarding the adjustment of the administrative divisions of Yushan Town, Changshu City.

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