Former Site of the Archery Training Platform

Former Site of the Archery Training Platform

The Former Site of the Archery Training Platform is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Former Site of the Archery Training Platform is located at No. 44 Huaihe Road, Luyang District, Hefei City, Anhui Province.

Also known as Cao Cao’s General Commanding Platform or the Water Chestnut Platform. It was first built during the Three Kingdoms period. Historical records indicate that Cao Cao stationed and trained 500 archers here to defend against the naval forces of Eastern Wu, hence the name of the platform. The platform is 5 meters high and covers an area of 4,200 square meters on top. The entire structure was made of earth, surrounded by stone slabs, and shaped like an inverted truncated pyramid. Today, the ancient Archery Training Platform houses the Mingjiao Temple, which is used for religious activities. Mingjiao Temple was built during the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern and Northern Dynasties period. Originally named Iron Buddha Temple, it was later destroyed in war. Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yu, ordered its reconstruction and named it "Mingjiao Temple." The temple has experienced periods of prosperity and decline, and was completely destroyed by fire in the fifth year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty, before being rebuilt again. The current main structures of Mingjiao Temple were built during the Guangxu reign. In 1981, it was designated as a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Anhui Province.