Haiyueyan Temple

Haiyueyan Temple

Haiyueyan Temple is a cultural heritage site protected by Zhangpu County.

Located on the north side of the highway in Tulou Village, Shaxi Township. The temple is formed from a natural stone cave, with a ceiling made of a massive natural rock slab measuring 15 meters wide and 30 meters long. The cave is 10 meters deep and wide, forming the main hall. A wall has been built in front of the hall, along with a temple gate. The wall is adorned with glazed tiles featuring overhanging eaves and colorful porcelain dragons. The side of the stone canopy above the gate is inscribed with the three characters “Hai Yue Yan” (Sea Moon Rock). At the base of the eastern wall inside the hall, there is a stone cave that leads to the top of the rock. To the left of the hall is the “Dan Yun Shi” (Cloud-Retreat Chamber). Between the main hall and the Dan Yun Shi lies the Liangshan Shrine, which serves as the passage into the rock temple. To the right of the main hall is the Dongbi Temple, which is built with earthen and wooden structures. The exact time of Haiyueyan Temple’s initial construction is unknown, but it was rebuilt during the Xianchun era of the Song Dynasty. During the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, monks reconstructed it, and in the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, they expanded it. Haiyueyan Temple was designated as a cultural heritage site protected by Zhangpu County in 1979.