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) and is a historic and well-known temple. It got its name, Longquan Temple, because a spring on the east side of the main hall flows into an iron dragon statue, as if a dragon were spewing water from its mouth, reminiscent of a legend.

The Dragon Spring Ancestral 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 Dragon Spring Ancestral Hall mainly enshrines Guanyin, along with the story of three women—Ma, Du, and Ji—who were sisters-in-law with deep bonds of affection and who shared unhappy marriages. They are worshipped in the Ancestral Hall as the Great Luo True Immortals, and the temple is called the “Temple of the Five Immortal Sisters.” From the front of the temple, visitors can enjoy a bird’s-eye view of downtown Sanming, surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear waters, with continuous mountain ranges. The temple, with its long history, ancient architectural artistry, and picturesque scenery, attracts tourists from both home and abroad.