Meilie Longquan Temple

Meilie Longquan Temple

Meilie Longquan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Longquan Temple

Longquan Temple is located in the northwest of Meilie District, Sanming City, about five li from Lixi Village in Ma'anzhai. It is said to have been built during the Song Dynasty (1170s), making it a historic and well-known temple. It earned the name Longquan Temple because a clear spring on the east side of the Buddhist hall flows into an iron dragon sculpture, resembling a dragon spouting water from its mouth as in legend.

The Longyuan Main Hall consists of two parts: the Ancestral Hall and the Buddhist Hall. The Ancestral Hall is the main structure of Longquan Temple, while the Buddhist Hall includes the Guanyin Hall on the upper level, the Mahavira Hall in the middle, and the Heavenly King Hall at the lower level. The Longyuan Ancestral Hall mainly enshrines Guanyin, and also tells the heartfelt story of three women—Ma, Du, and Ji—who were sisters-in-law with deep bonds, sharing a common misfortune in marriage. They are worshipped in the Longyuan Ancestral Hall as the “Five Immortal Maidens,” and the temple is thus known as the “Temple of the Five Immortal Sisters.” From the front of the temple, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of downtown Sanming, surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear waters with continuous ranges. With its long history, ancient architectural art, and picturesque scenery, the temple deeply attracts tourists from both home and abroad.