Nanyan Temple in Xinchang

Nanyan Temple in Xinchang

Nanyan Temple in Xinchang is a cultural tourism attraction.

Nanyan Temple is an officially approved temple by the Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission. It is located in Xishan Village, 5 kilometers west of the county town. Old records state: “The cliffs are steep and perilous, all formed by accumulated sand and stones, resembling walls. When touched, the stones crumble and fall, and sometimes collapses occur. Legend has it that when Yu the Great controlled the floods, the water flowed eastward and deposited sand to form the rocks.” “When people dug the ground here, they found shells of snails and clams, suggesting that the area beneath the rock was once a sea gateway.” The Tang Dynasty’s Li Shen wrote in the “Longgong Temple Stele”: “The traces of the southern cliffs and the sea are still evident today.” The Song Dynasty’s Fan Zhongyan wrote in a poem: “After Yu the Great had tamed the waters, one peak remained here.” The Song Dynasty’s Wang Shipeng wrote in the “Huaji Fu” (Ode to Kuaiji): “Nanyan stands towering, with ancient traces of the sea.” The Nanyan Mountain scenic area stretches over ten li, featuring attractions such as Nanyan Temple, the Ancient Fishing Platform of Ren Gongzi, Huayun Cave, Da Cave, Iron Buddha Temple, and Bat Cave.

Nanyan Temple: There is no solemn atmosphere of incense smoke or secluded meditation halls here, nor is there a bustling crowd of tourists, let alone visits from dignitaries. The temple is as tranquil as an ancient pool covered in moss. A few gatekeepers, as simple and transparent as clear springs, told us: Nanyan Temple is one of the earliest cave temples, with a history of over 1,600 years. During the Tang and Song dynasties, it housed eight hundred monks. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang once heard of its fame and came here to reflect his image in the water. It is said that Xinchang had Nanyan Temple before it had the Great Buddha Temple. Today, the monks have long gone, but the remnants remain—only the Buddha halls, monks’ quarters, and stone inscriptions occasionally reflect the once-flourishing incense offerings.

The Nanyan Rock Hall, inscribed with the plaque “Tianyi Zhenqing Palace,” faces south and is built atop a cliff. It is a stone-carved structure imitating wooden architecture, spanning three bays with a width of 11 meters, a depth of 6.6 meters, and a total height of 6.8 meters. It is the largest existing stone hall on Mount Wudang. Due to the heavy stone components and the challenging construction on the cliff, its completion required great ingenuity and exceptional craftsmanship from ancient Chinese artisans.

Nanyan is also known as “Zixiao Rock” because it faces south. The full name of Nanyan Palace is “Dasheng Nanyan Palace,” representing the most seamless integration of natural and cultural landscapes on Mount Wudang.

The peaks and ridges of Nanyan are rugged and precipitous, with lush forests extending up to the azure sky and down to sheer cliffs. A Taoist temple was built here during the Yuan Dynasty, and over 640 halls were constructed in the 11th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1413 AD). These were destroyed in the late Qing Dynasty. Today, only the Yuan Dynasty stone hall, Ming Dynasty structures such as the South Heaven Gate, stele pavilion, and Liangyi Hall, as well as ruins like the Yuanjun Hall, Nanxun Hall, and Yuanguang Hall remain.

The overall layout of Nanyan Palace is the most flexible among the Nine Palaces—both rigorous and richly varied. Entering through the South Heaven Gate and then the Small Heaven Gate, passing the stele pavilion, you reach the Chongfu Rock, commonly known as the Tiger Rock Footrest. In the distance are the Yuanguang Hall and Nanxun Pavilion; nearby are 18 chess platforms and ruins such as the Taishang Guan, Wushi Hall, Abbot’s Quarters, and Dining Hall. The Dragon-Tiger Hall is a famous sight at Nanyan. Exiting the Dragon-Tiger Hall leads to a large courtyard with a hexagonal well encircled by stone railings. The well water is fragrant, cool, and sweet like nectar, hence called the Sweet Dew Well—it is one of the best springs on Mount Wudang.

Surrounding Nanyan are attractions such as Dripping Water Rock, Immortal Companions Rock, Black Tiger Rock, Red Army Cave, Thunder God Cave, and Dragon Pool—all situated above sheer cliffs thousands of feet high, overlooking bottomless ravines. Truly, the most spectacular views lie atop the most perilous peaks.