Qianshan Xiangshan Temple

Qianshan Xiangshan Temple

Qianshan Xiangshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Great Xiangshan Temple is located at the foot of Xiangshan Peak in Guanzhuang Town, northwest of Qianshan County, Anhui Province. It was first built during the glorious Tang Dynasty. In the 12th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1886 AD), it was successively renovated by the venerable monks "Yixin", "Zhongjie", and "Changfa", resulting in the construction of three Buddhist halls and twenty monastic quarters. In 1908, Master Changfa, full of ambition, raised funds from all directions to cast a giant bell, featuring a bronze body with a silver top. The bell stands 3.2 meters tall, with a circumference of 6 meters and a thickness of 0.23 meters, weighing over ten thousand jin. It bears the engraved names of more than twelve thousand individuals, hence known as the “Ten Thousand Names Bell”. It is considered the largest alloy-cast bell produced in a traditional earthen furnace in China, a true marvel in Buddhist monasteries. The daily tolling of the morning bell and evening drum echoes across thousands of miles, resonating throughout the halls. Nestled within pine forests, the monastery exudes solemnity and reverence. To its sides stand the Bell Stone and Drum Stone platforms. Inside, a multitude of Buddhist statues are displayed, presenting a sacred scene described as “Three Thousand Worlds of the Buddha's Realm, Foremost among All Buddhist Monasteries”. In 1984, it was listed as a provincially protected key temple.

There are many scenic spots around the Great Xiangshan Temple, including Heron Cave, Lion’s Eye, White Dragon Well, and Heavenly River Gully. The “Hundred Buddhas Cave” is several meters high with an area of dozens of square meters. At the back of the cave, one can squeeze through a narrow stone crevice and suddenly emerge into a dense forest. Crossing perilous bridges and walking along small paths, visitors marvel at the naturally formed “Lion’s Eye”, at the top of which a spring drips continuously like silk, attracting devout Buddhists who come to collect its water. Climbing up the cliffs to the main peak of Xiangshan, one finds the “White Dragon Well” on the sheer cliff face, its water more than a foot deep and never drying up, once a place where locals prayed for rain. Beside the Xiangshan Temple, a valley stretches straight from the mountain foot to the summit, as if carved by an axe, with winding, deep paths shaded by trees — named “Heavenly River Gully”. Legend says that after the Goddess Wangmu separated the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid here, her silver hairpin turned into the “Heavenly River Gully”, her jade mirror became the bright cliff below the peak, the Cowherd transformed into a stone shaped like an ox, and the Weaving Maid’s tears became trickling springs.

The current Great Xiangshan Temple was built over a century ago, and its buildings have severely deteriorated. They were assessed by the county religious affairs bureau and other relevant departments as dangerous structures, with multiple halls at risk of collapse. In 2001, upon joint recommendation and approval by the county religious affairs bureau and devoted followers, Venerable Shi Zhiqing was appointed abbot of Xiangshan Temple — truly a mission to save the temple in crisis. After arriving, the venerable actively sought opportunities for the temple’s development and worked tirelessly to raise support for its reconstruction. Thanks to government attention and support from all sectors of society, the reconstruction project proceeded smoothly under Master Zhiqing’s leadership. In 2003, the government approved the demolition and rebuilding of the Guanyin Hall of the Great Xiangshan Temple, with Master Zhiqing overseeing the reconstruction. In 2004, the new 200-square-meter Guanyin Hall was completed, and the Thousand-Armed Guanyin was reinstated on the lotus throne. In 2005, a new two-story dormitory building for monks with ten rooms was constructed to improve their living conditions. In 2006, with the support of leaders at all levels and the joint efforts of various circles, a 2.6-kilometer access road to the temple was successfully completed and opened to traffic. From 2008 to 2009, to improve the temple’s living environment, new guest hall and dining hall facilities were put into use.

Pingfeng Village: Located in the northern region of Qianshan County and south of Guanzhuang Town, Pingfeng Village in Guanzhuang Town borders Guanghua Village to the east, Tapian Township to the south, Guanzhuang Village to the west, and Jincheng Village to the north. It was formed by merging the former villages of Xiangshan, Pingfeng, and Henghe. The Longguan Highway and Datong Highway pass through the village, and there are currently 14 village-group roads. The village has 44 villager groups, with an agricultural population of 3,640 people, a land area of 16 square kilometers, arable land of 1,054 mu, and mountainous land of 15,800 mu, averaging 7.34 mu per person. The land is infertile and resources are scarce.

In 2008, the total annual agricultural output value was 1.2 million yuan, and the per capita net income was... More detailed information about Pingfeng Village ++