Zhuozhou Haichanlin Temple

Zhuozhou Haichanlin Temple

Zhuozhou Haichanlin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Haichanlin Temple is located in Dongci Village, Yihezhuang Township, about 15 kilometers east of Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province. The temple was first built in the late Ming Dynasty, modeled after the Palace of the Goddess of Mount Tai, and dedicated to the Holy Mother. Initially, a local philanthropist surnamed Feng donated over 40 acres of land to fund its construction. The original temple was demolished in the 1960s, and a new one was later rebuilt in the 1990s, consisting of eastern and western courtyards.

The eastern courtyard was rebuilt in 1990, covering an area of 619.44 square meters, and consists of a single courtyard. Its main structures include: one mountain gate, seven main halls, and four wing rooms on each side, totaling 16 rooms, all featuring single-eave flush gable roofs in Qing-style imitation architecture. The western courtyard was reconstructed in 1996, covering an area of 2,558.63 square meters, and consists of two courtyards. Its main structures include: a mountain gate with three sections (left, middle, and right), featuring a single-eave hip-and-gable roof without beams; the Hall of Heavenly Kings, with a width of three bays and a depth of two bays, and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof; the main hall, built on a raised platform with a front terrace, featuring a width of seven bays, a depth of three bays, and a single-eave flush gable roof with a front corridor; and seventeen wing rooms on each side, all with hard gable roofs and front corridors. The overall architecture of the temple follows the Qing style. The site currently preserves six steles from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and a pair of stone lions.

The reconstructed Haichanlin Temple boasts magnificent architecture. The Hall of Heavenly Kings houses statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, with a statue of Maitreya Buddha in the center. The Mahavira Hall enshrines the Buddhas of the Three Ages and five hundred arhats. The painted Buddha statues are exquisitely colored and lifelike. Haichanlin Temple currently serves as a venue for Buddhist activities, enjoying a thriving incense culture and a large monastic community.

Transportation Guide

Address: Dongci Village, Yihezhuang Township, Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province

By Bus: Take a bus from Zhuozhou City bound for Gu’an or Gongcun, get off at Xici Village along the way, then walk to Dongci Village.