Yangshan Phoenix Temple

Yangshan Phoenix Temple

Yangshan Phoenix Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Phoenix Temple is located on Fenghuang Peak of Dayang Mountain. According to the Records of Hushuguan, “Below Fenghuang Peak lies the Fenghuang Terrace.” The temple stands majestically atop this terrace, which resembles the crown of a phoenix, with the surrounding peaks stretching eastward like the wings of a phoenix in flight. The terrain is shaped like a phoenix, hence the name Fenghuang Terrace. The Phoenix Temple is the only female monastic site in the High-Tech District, commonly known as a nunnery.

The origins of the Phoenix Temple can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty. Yue Dai’s Records of Yangshan states: “The Half-Mountain Temple, situated on the eastern side of the mountain, was built during the Xuande era by Monk Xin. A hill rises midway up the mountain, upon which the temple was built, also known as Yuan Yin; it has now been abandoned.” Examining the terrain on the eastern side of Yangshan, only the topography of Fenghuang Terrace matches the description of “a hill rising midway up the mountain.” No other hills rise so prominently elsewhere on the mountainside, let alone with a temple built atop them. Therefore, it is generally accepted that today’s Fenghuang Terrace is the Half-Mountain Temple of the Ming Dynasty.

During the Republican era, there were two temples on Fenghuang Terrace: the northern one being the Phoenix Temple and the southern one the Tianyun Temple. In 1966, both temples were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. It was not until 2004, with strong support from local government and devotees, that this 500-year-old temple was revived. The rebuilt Phoenix Temple consists of two parts: one on the mountain and one at the foot. On the mountain, there are the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, General Hall, and the Phoenix Pavilion Teahouse; at the foot, there is the Mountain Gate, Phoenix Annex, Liberation Pond, and Bamboo Grove. Each step reveals a new view, with landscapes unfolding at every turn. The panoramic views of mountains and waters are breathtaking. One might say the reconstruction of the Phoenix Temple is like a phoenix reborn from the ashes, living up to its elegant name.