Rear Hall of Chengying Temple

Rear Hall of Chengying Temple

The Rear Hall of Chengying Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Chengying Temple is located in Hejia Natural Village, Meiliangqiao Village, Hengjie Town, Haishu District, and was built during the Qing Dynasty. The main structure faces south and is courtyard-style, consisting of a front hall, stage, side wings, main hall, and two corridors. Due to years of neglect, the front hall, stage, side wings, and main hall have all been damaged and demolished. The existing buildings were reconstructed according to the original layout, but the column base stones are still the original remnants. The Rear Hall of Chengying Temple is relatively well-preserved, with most of its internal framework dating back to the original construction. The rear hall is a single-eave, flush-gable roof building with five bays. The central and adjacent bays feature a four-pillar, seven-rafter frame with a five-rafter lifted beam and single-step front and rear. The side bays are the same as the central ones. The end bays use central pillars, with a five-pillar, seven-rafter structure. On the floor of the central bay lies a stone slab intricately carved with a qilin and phoenix. The rear hall’s courtyard is flanked by corridors on both sides, each with three bays and a three-rafter, five-pillar frame spanning three bays. Some of the wood carvings in the rear hall are exquisitely crafted, with a flying rafter beam adorned with a bat carving underneath. The eave pillars are fitted with dragon-headed bracket arms. In the courtyard of the rear hall stands a stone incense burner, whose three feet are carved with lions. The burner, used for placing incense sticks, has its upper carvings weathered and barely recognizable.

During the Anti-Japanese War, the Rear Hall of Chengying Temple served as a site for underground struggles and gatherings of revolutionary activists organized by the Communist Party’s Yinxī District Committee. It was one of the red strongholds where the Yinxī Party organization mobilized the masses, organized armed forces, and prepared for resistance against the enemy. It stands as a commemorative structure honoring the region’s anti-Japanese guerrilla warfare led by our Party.

Currently, the hall is generally well-preserved, featuring a tall and spacious structure, exquisite carvings, and its original appearance intact. In May 2005, it was designated as a Haishu District-level Cultural Relics Protection Site, and following the 2016 administrative division adjustment of Ningbo City, it was placed under the jurisdiction of Haishu District.

Meiliangqiao Village: Located at the southernmost part of Hengjie Town, Meiliangqiao Village is 3 kilometers from the town center. It is traversed by the Hengmei Highway, connecting to Yinzhou River and Gulin Town, offering convenient transportation and a relatively superior geographical location. The village administers three natural villages—Wangjiacao, Meiliangqiao, and Hejia—and four villager groups. It has a total of 276 households and 651 residents, including 31 Party members. The village currently has 600 acres of arable land and 2,300 acres of forested land. To the west, rolling mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, home to the majestic Xiling Peak and Longkū Temple. The area cultivates crops such as rush, loquat, and waxberry. At the foot of the mountains lies the renowned Buddhist Laymen’s Forest, Chengying Temple, as well as ancient Dragon Pool and waters... More details about Meiliangqiao Village++