Liancheng Lingfeng of Taimu Mountain

Liancheng Lingfeng of Taimu Mountain

The Liancheng Lingfeng Scenic Area of Taimu Mountain was invested and built by Fuding Lingfeng Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The core attraction within the scenic area is “Lingfeng Chan Temple.”

Lingfeng Chan Temple is situated on Taimu Mountain in Fuding City, Fujian Province, adjacent to the East China Sea, bordering the regions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, standing as a majestic sentinel in the southeast, overseeing the lands of Wu and Yue. Its body is towering, its momentum lofty, standing resolutely against the green sky and soaring cliffs, with its sheer walls piercing the clouds. Thousands of peaks display exquisite beauty, stretching and undulating. When the view cuts through the mist and clouds, traverses the overlapping mountains, and rests upon the lush forests, slender bamboos, and misty sea of clouds atop the Hu Mountain of Lengcheng in Qinyu, what captivates the soul is this ancient temple of the Six Dynasties, long revered as the “Buddhist Kingdom of the East” and the “Fairyland on the Sea.”

Lingfeng Chan Temple was originally built during the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty (around 868 AD) and has a history of over 1,140 years. For several centuries during the Tang and Song dynasties, the temple flourished with numerous eminent monks and was a highly esteemed monastery across the land. From the Ming and Qing dynasties onward, it gradually declined. By the early days of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, only ruins remained, and during the “Cultural Revolution,” it fell into even greater disrepair. The temple visitors see today was constructed in the 21st century. In September 2001, Master Wuyuan took charge of Lingfeng Temple and oversaw its renovation and reconstruction. The temple now houses over 70 stone carvings from the Tang and Song dynasties, originally the pedestals of Buddha statues, featuring patterns of figures, beasts, and flowers, all with simple and rustic designs. The figures include muscular guardians, each with a lotus throne beneath their heads, round-faced, with piercing eyes and varied expressions, exuding the unique aura of peerless strength. The lions are diverse in form, with simple yet powerful designs and a grand presence, masterpieces crafted by unknown ancient artists. Other relics include the Xining stone pillar, the Xuanhe pagoda base, the Shaoxing stone incense burner, and the “Record of the Reconstruction of Lingfeng Temple” written by Yang Ji, the Song Dynasty criminal investigation official. The Song Dynasty historian Zheng Qiao once taught here and composed a poem about the Meng Well in front of the temple: “Quietly cradling the cold jade, pouring moonlight from the verdant peak. It deserves the highest praise, not yielding to the springs of Hui Mountain.” Zhu Xi once lectured at the Shihu Academy here and inscribed its name: “The stream flows with stone pillars, the lake’s reflection forms a moonlit pool.”

Lingfeng Temple is a tourist destination that integrates Buddhist culture, historical relics, ethnic culture, white tea culture, and natural landscapes. Since September 2001, through the tireless efforts of Master Wuyuan and Chen Jieqi, funds were raised from various sources to rebuild and expand the ancient Lingfeng Temple. The temple complex covers an area of over 500 acres, with a construction area of more than 30,000 square meters. Facilities include the mountain gate, a liberation pond, the Heavenly King Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Reclining Buddha Hall, the bell and drum towers, the Mahavira Hall, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Tower, the Scripture Depository, the Abbot’s Quarters, the VIP Building, the Layperson Residence, the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, Lingfeng Mountain Villa, and a meditation center. With its beautiful natural environment and continuously improving tourism facilities, it truly blends solemnity and simplicity with vibrant flowers and green leaves, presenting a renewed and refreshing appearance everywhere.

Lengcheng, originally named Liancheng, was a fortress built during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty to defend against pirate invasions. The entire wall is constructed from natural stones and pebbles, with a perimeter of 1,127 meters, a height of 5.6 meters, and a thickness of 4.6 meters. It has three gates—east, south, and west—but no north gate, due to traditional feng shui beliefs. The interior of the city is divided into four districts based on the terrain: Donglu (East Foot District) in the east, Jinlu (Golden Foot District) in the west, Qingyun (Celebration Cloud District) in the south, and Dongya (East Jaw District) in the north.

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