JINMING TEMPLE

Jinming Temple

Jinming Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Jinming Temple in Xiamen is located at No. 4 Xitouxia, Huangcuo, Siming District, situated beside the picturesque coastal resort area—Huanhai Road. It is the only Buddhist sacred site in Xiamen that borders Huanhai Road, facing Kinmen of Taiwan across the sea, offering a prime geographical advantage.

The temple was first built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1875–1908), originally serving as a preaching site for the Xiantian sect, an external religious group, before later becoming a Buddhist temple. Its first abbot was Yang Zhang Yugu. In the ninth year of the Republic of China (1920), the wealthy merchant Jiang Yide funded renovations, but unfortunately, the temple soon suffered a devastating fire, leaving only a plaque inscribed with “Divine Inspiration and Transformation” and several window frames. In the twelfth year of the Republic of China, Yang Zhang Yugu passed away, and her disciples Xiao Mubi and Su Donglai took over. During the War of Resistance against Japan, the temple was nearly destroyed by shelling. The third abbess, Chen Aitong, worked tirelessly to protect the temple, which eventually saw a revival. In 1992, Abbess Aitong invited Master Puduan from the Minnan Buddhist College to serve as the abbot of Jinming Temple. The master carried out reforms, promoted orthodox Buddhism, and attracted a large following, ushering in a new era of prosperity for the temple.

On March 20, 2001, reconstruction of the temple began. The new complex consists of the Mountain Gate, the Heavenly King Hall, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, and the Main Hall. The ground floor of the Main Hall houses the Kṣitigarbha Hall and the Chanting Hall; the second floor contains the Mahavira Hall; the third floor is the Scripture Depository; and the fourth and fifth floors make up the Guanyin Pavilion. The architecture follows the Tang Dynasty style, highlighting an open, majestic, elegant, and serene aesthetic. Additionally, a four-story inner courtyard has been constructed, including facilities such as the Guest Reception Hall, monastic quarters, storage rooms, and dining halls. Once completed, Jinming Temple will stand out with its “timeless grandeur,” becoming another stunning highlight along the coastal scenic belt.

Address: No. 4 Xitouxia, Huangcuo, Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China Postal Code: 361005

Phone: +86 0592-2560235 E-mail: xmjms@126.com