Xixin Pavilion (Xixin Pool)

Xixin Pavilion (Xixin Pool)

"Xixin" means to repent and start anew. In ancient times, although the Langya Temple was also picturesque, it was not solely for sightseeing but mainly a place where monks gathered to chant scriptures and people came to burn incense and worship the Buddha. Xixin Pavilion is built at the foot of the mountain path leading into the temple. Pilgrims and worshippers had to stop here to burn incense and pray, confessing their past sins. By doing so and “cleansing the heart,” they believed that “sincerity moves the divine,” thus making their prayers more effective when they continued up the mountain to worship the Buddha. If their wishes were not granted, it was not because the bodhisattva was ineffective, but because their hearts were not sincere.

Visitors hiking up Mount Langya often arrive at Xixin Pavilion already out of breath and drenched in sweat. At this point, taking a short rest inside the pavilion before continuing the climb can significantly boost one’s energy. Alternatively, if you visit Drunkard Pavilion first and then head to Langya Temple, you may still be enchanted by the garden scenery at Drunkard Pavilion—lingering in a dreamlike state even after passing Awakening Garden. A brief pause at Xixin Pavilion can help you regain composure, calm your emotions, and center your mind. Then, as you slowly make your way up the mountain along the ancient Langya Path toward Shenshu Lake and Langya Temple, you will feel particularly refreshed.

Xixin Pavilion is located within the famous Hangzhou scenic area of Bamboo-lined Path at Yunqi. The Bamboo-lined Path at Yunqi lies to the west of West Lake, north of Jiuxi Stream, and at the foot of Wuyun Mountain. During the Jin Dynasty, Wuyun Temple was built here but was later repeatedly constructed and abandoned, eventually falling into ruin. Today, only Xixin Pavilion remains along the bamboo path. Though not an ancient relic, it is delicate and charming.

The name of the pavilion, Xixin, places importance on the heart and emphasizes cleansing. In ancient times, there were virtuous scholars who feasted on rosy clouds and befriended deer, choosing to live in seclusion in the mountains. When visitors tried to persuade them to take official positions, hearing such worldly talk, they hurried to a spring to wash their ears. There were also fishermen who roamed the rivers with hawks and herons, tempted by the moonlit charm of the world. When faced with such enticements, they simply sat in the water to wash their feet. Hermits and fishermen regarded mountain life as pure and secular life as impure. The pure realm offers winding springs and rocks, endless misty clouds, caves for dwelling, vines for beds, timeless chess games, and autumn rains that keep one awake all night. The impure realm, on the other hand, teems with a thousand forms of allure, myriad styles of seduction, power to grasp, profits to gain, beauties whose smiles can topple nations, and delicacies one could never tire of. One cannot help but sigh at the duality of purity and impurity in this world. Washing the ears and cleansing the feet—true purity begins with self-respect.

Address: Within the Bamboo-lined Path at Yunqi, South Meiling Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou

Type: Historic Site

Recommended Visiting Time: 10–20 minutes

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Bamboo-lined Path at Yunqi admission.