Hella Temple

Hella Temple

Hella Temple is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

Guolu (Hella) Temple is located at the foot of the beautiful Helu Mountain in the southern part of Fushan District, Yantai City, bordered to the north by the city’s main water source, the Menlou Reservoir. Nestled against the mountain and beside the water, it embodies the saying, “Nine peaks embrace emerald hues, a sacred realm of wisdom blooms like lotus flowers; the three realms converge in this blessed land where bodhi flourishes.” Historical records indicate that it was first built during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, with a history of over 1,300 years. Historically, Guolu (Helu) Temple was the ancient temple in the Jiaodong region with the longest-lasting incense offerings and Buddhist lineage, known as the “No. 1 Ancient Temple of Jiaodong.” The rebuilt Guolu (Helu) Temple features grand architectural scale and majestic halls, including an inner mountain gate, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Scripture Depository, and the Four Great Bodhisattva Halls, totaling over a hundred rooms. The scenic area upholds the simplicity and rigor of traditional monastic temples while integrating modern humanistic concepts. By promoting sincere Buddhism and utilizing the compassion and wisdom of the Buddha, it purifies the mind, cares for life, and provides a cultural tourism and spiritual wellness center for the busy modern individual—a place for spiritual repose and inner return. The scenic area currently includes attractions such as the Monk Ennin’s Dharma-Seeking Bridge, the Eastern Buddha Land Holy Lotus Square, the Ten Thousand Blessings Wall, the inner mountain gate, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Scripture Depository, the Four Great Bodhisattva Halls, and a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree. It attracts hundreds of thousands of domestic and international tourists for sightseeing each year.

Featured Sceneries: (1) Tower Summit. The main peak of Helu Mountain, which the temple backs onto, stands at an elevation of 630.4 meters. The mountain is tall and majestic, with undulating ridges, lush forests, and is the highest peak in Fushan—its summit appears lofty from afar, resembling a pagoda, hence the name “Tower Summit.” This view can be enjoyed year-round in clear weather. (2) Helu Mountain Mist. The towering and majestic Tower Summit of Helu Mountain, with its picturesque ridges and dense forests, due to its unique natural and geographical location, is often shrouded in mist all year round—unbroken by wind, light as wisps of smoke gently drifting, with the mountain appearing ethereal; or thick as rolling waves, with the mountain seemingly a lone boat floating on a vast sea of fog, appearing and disappearing intermittently. Five steps away, everything is hazy, giving those within a sensation of riding the clouds and rising above the mundane, while observers below feel a sense of floating transcendence and serene distance, sparking boundless imagination and a feeling of being in a fairyland. This forms the famous “Helu Mist,” renowned as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Old Fushan (today’s Yantai). This view is typically visible during overcast and rainy summer weather.

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Self-driving: Local visitors: Take Gangcheng East Avenue – head south on Futao Road for 16 km – turn left at the Guolu (Helu) Temple sign. Out-of-town visitors: Exit at Chongyi Toll Station – head south on Yanfeng Line (Futao Road) for 14 km – turn left at the Guolu (Helu) Temple sign. Parking: 300 spaces at the entrance, 300 spaces along the roadside. Public transport: Tourist Route 2 bus (from Gongjia Island, Zhifu District to Guolu (Helu) Temple) is available.