Gaobeidian Kaishan Temple

Gaobeidian Kaishan Temple

Kaishan Temple is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Kaishan Temple is located in the northeast corner of the old city site of Gaobeidian City, Hebei Province, in northern China. It is a Buddhist temple that retains the architectural style of the Liao Dynasty (916–1125 AD).

It is said that Kaishan Temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), but most of the original buildings have been destroyed. The only surviving structures are the main hall from the Liao Dynasty and the later-renovated Hall of Heavenly Kings and Diamond Throne Hall. The main hall is five bays wide and three bays deep, with a total height of about 13.2 meters. The columns inside are thick and sturdy, featuring obvious inward inclination (side angle) and upward tapering (rise), with smoothly rounded column bases. The roof is a hip-and-gable roof with far-reaching eaves and a gentle curve. To enhance the sense of space, the builders employed the "column-reducing" technique common in Liao and Jin architecture. There are only four columns inside the hall, creating an open and spacious view that accommodates numerous Buddhist statues, reflecting the Liao Dynasty’s design philosophy of integrating structural layout with practical needs. Additionally, the hall preserves murals from the Liao Dynasty.

Kaishan Temple provides important physical material for understanding the architectural, sculptural, and painting arts of the Liao Dynasty. (National Cultural Heritage Administration)

Further reading:

· Second Batch of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Fourth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units