The Main Hall outside the niche

The Main Hall outside the niche

The Main Hall outside the niche is a cultural tourism attraction.

Originally built during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, a pavilion was added in the fifth year of the Huichang era (845), renovated in the Five Dynasties period and named "Rui Xiang Temple". In the first year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008), it was granted the name "Baoxiang Temple". By the ninth year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1411), the Buddhist pavilion was rebuilt with three stories and five bays, and named "Pilu Pavilion". In the 29th year of the Wanli era (1601), a beamless bridge was constructed, and the current structure with five stories and five bays was rebuilt in the 19th year of the Guangxu era (1893).

The main hall underwent major renovations in 1981, with additional statues of Manjushri and Samantabhadra, and the reshaping of the Eighteen Arhats. The main building was changed to five stories and seven bays, built along the cliff, featuring a hip-and-gable roof, upturned eaves, and a design that recedes layer by layer into a pagoda-like form. Its appearance is both majestic and exquisite, as well as sturdy and graceful.

The plaque “Xiaoyao Lou” (Carefree Tower) is handwritten by Yan Zhenqing of the Tang Dynasty; the “Da Xiong Bao Dian” (Great Buddha’s Hall) inscription is by Yu Yue of the Qing Dynasty, and the couplet inside the hall — “The philosophies of reason share the same origin as the Western sage; the realm of Avatamsaka manifests the phenomena of South Ming” — is written by Cai Yuanpei.