Xingtai Yuquan Chan Temple

Xingtai Yuquan Chan Temple

Xingtai Yuquan Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

About forty li northwest of Xingtai lies Huangsi Village, home to Yuquan Temple, built during the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (627–649 AD). The temple is famed for its three wonders.

The first wonder is Huangsi. Legend has it that when the Yuan Emperor Shundi was being pursued by the Ming general Zhu Yuanzhang, he took refuge near Yuquan Temple. Zhu Yuanzhang, in turn, rested his troops and fed his horses at the temple, which was later renamed Huangsi. Originally built in the Tang Dynasty and renovated in the Yuan Dynasty, its main hall and side halls are grand and majestic, constructed of brick and wood with carved beams and painted rafters in the Yuan style—rare sights in modern times. Unfortunately, due to poor preservation and years of neglect, this uniquely styled ancient architecture is no longer what it once was.

The second wonder is the Bird-Bark Cypress. In the temple courtyard stands a 1,250-year-old cypress tree over twenty meters tall, upright and vigorous with lush, thick branches, green year-round. The tree’s crown is exceptionally dense, roughly divided into seven layers, resembling smoke or clouds, with an unusually deep green hue. Nestled within a remote mountain temple and surrounded by Yuquan’s waters, the tree often hosts rare birds. Coupled with its massive canopy, the rustling leaves in the wind create a sound like a chorus of birdsong. According to botanists, the tree’s superior species and rich soil contribute to its unique grain structure. Local legend adds: “Each bird that lands adds a feather-like pattern to the bark; over time, the patterns resemble birds, and the birds mirror the beauty of the bark.” Sadly, long ago on a moonless night, a thief from the south used sorghum stalks to conceal his actions, split the trunk, and stole the bird patterns. The remaining over-three-meter-long, one-meter-wide scar is said to be evidence of the theft. Though the tale is enchanting, the patterns were actually caused by lightning strikes. The cypress’s beautiful grains remain intact.

The third wonder is Yuquan Pool. South of the Bird-Bark Cypress lies an ancient spring pool known as “Yuquan Pool.” Its stone bed glitters like jade, the water crystal-clear with fish swimming gracefully. Built by County Magistrate Chen Dabin of the Ming Dynasty, the pool is five hundred years old. Covering over five mu, the pool features rippling blue waters and pavilions standing tall; its shores are lined with finely laid stone slabs and rows of weeping willows. On the southern bank stands an antique stone memorial archway, with silver-gray stone pillars, beams, and roof tiles intricately carved with vivid dragon and phoenix designs. The central arch bears the bold, flowing calligraphy “Yuquan Pool,” penned by then-Xingtai County Magistrate Zhu Hao. At the pool’s center sits an exquisitely crafted pavilion, nestled among red flowers, clear water, and green willows, offering a serene spot to admire the scenery and escape the summer heat.

Even in recent years of severe drought, when many famous springs ran dry, Yuquan Pool continued to bubble forth day and night, its waters glistening like jade. With a daily outflow of seven to ten thousand tons, this spring has brought life to this limestone region, normally parched, transforming it into a place where “canals crisscross, winding through villages and homes, nourishing fertile fields with jade-like flows.” In and around Huangsi Village, every household enjoys the sound of flowing springs, while hillsides and fields bloom with rice and wheat, resembling Jiangnan in beauty—if not in name. Strangely, while the spring never runs dry at Yuquan Pool, just downstream near Huangsi, it seeps into the limestone fissures, vanishing without a trace. This is another of Xingtai’s wonders: “never drying up yet never filling.”

When the sun sets, golden hues bathe the ancient temple’s ridges and eaves, the Bird-Bark Cypress’s branches, the Yuquan Pool’s pavilion and plaques, and the surrounding forested cliffs, creating a tranquil and magnificent scene. This breathtaking view gave rise to the attraction known as “Yuquan Sunset Glow.”

Transportation Guide

Location: Huangsi Town, Qiaoxi District, Xingtai City, Hebei Province

Getting There: In Xingtai City, take Bus 12 and get off at Huangsi Station, then walk west to reach the temple.