Zhen Mountain Chan Temple

Zhen Mountain Chan Temple

Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, Zhen Mountain Chan Temple is a Chan sect monastery-style temple featuring 99-and-a-half rooms, and is one of the ten most renowned ancient temples in Dangtu.

Currently, the temple grounds have expanded to over 18,000 square meters, with a construction area of more than 10,000 square meters. The temple complex includes over 70 structures such as Buddha halls, dining halls, and guest rooms, including nine Buddha halls and 100 Buddha statues. The Mazu Pavilion, funded by worshippers from southern Jiangsu, is uniquely designed, making Zhen Mountain Chan Temple the first temple in the province dedicated to the worship of the Goddess Mazu. With attention from municipal leaders, the temple’s internal and external environments have also been developed accordingly, complete with water, electricity, and communication facilities. It can accommodate over 100 people for meals at the same time; a new gravel road and parking lot leading from Provincial Highway 314 to the temple have been built, providing convenient transportation. Worshippers from Shanghai, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, and other areas come here in an endless stream.

Zhen Mountain Chan Temple is currently an approved development temple by the Dangtu County Government, and has been listed by Ma'anshan City as one of its municipal-level tourist attractions.

Zhen Mountain Chan Temple is under the jurisdiction of the Dangtu County Religious Affairs Bureau and is managed by the Zhen Mountain Chan Temple Management Committee.

At the dawn of the 21st century, Zhen Mountain Chan Temple invested 2 million yuan to construct a new Mahavira Hall. Construction began in April 2002 and was completed in April 2004. The hall is 18 meters high with a construction area of 500 square meters, exuding grandeur and majesty, and is currently the largest hall in the Ma'anshan region. Now, the scale and magnificence of Zhen Mountain Chan Temple have surpassed its historical peak.

The future development of Zhen Mountain Chan Temple has a feasible construction blueprint. To the left and right of the newly built Mahavira Hall, plans are underway to construct the Grand Vow Hall and the Great Compassion Hall. Further along the mountain, there are plans to build a Dharma Hall, Amitabha Hall, and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda. The Ten Thousand Buddhas Pagoda is preliminarily designed to be nine stories tall, reaching 30 meters in height. In the near future, Zhen Mountain Chan Temple will greet worshippers from all over the country with the brand-new presence of a Chan sect monastic complex, making new contributions to the promotion of Buddhism.

Regular activities at Zhen Mountain Chan Temple include “Bell Ringing,” “Pilgrimage,” “Guanyin Assembly,” “Buddha Recitation,” and “Seven-day Buddha Chanting Session.”