Congma Temple Scenic Area

Congma Temple Scenic Area

Congma Temple Scenic Area is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Introduction to Congma Temple Tourist Area: The scenic area is under the administration of Haiyang Congma Temple Ecotourism Co., Ltd., a provincial-level enterprise. It is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a provincial agricultural tourism demonstration site. To enrich the cultural development of the scenic area and promote traditional Chinese silk culture, since 2007, the scenic area has taken the “Harmonious Urban-Rural Tourism” theme as an opportunity. From May to October each year, the scenic area offers on-site tours showcasing the entire process from silkworm breeding to silk formation, allowing more visitors to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery and appreciate Buddhist culture while gaining a deeper understanding of the continuity of Chinese silk culture history. This creates a unique travel experience where visitors can learn with joy and gain knowledge through fun. The area has developed special tourism activities such as the “Mulberry & Silkworm Leisure Farm” and “Silkworm Family Fun.” From May to October each year, visitors can participate in picking mulberry leaves, feeding silkworms themselves, and personally experiencing the joy of sericulture. As the largest silkworm-breeding sightseeing base in the province, the scenic area boasts a mulberry plantation covering over 400 acres. Mulberries typically ripen during the summer vacation period, and the scenic area holds mulberry-picking activities at the end of June and early July every year. Currently, the scenic area has developed a range of silk-related by-products including silk quilts, silkworm excrement pillows, mulberry leaf tea, male moth wine, and male silkworm moths.

Introduction to Congma Temple: According to the Haizhou County Annals, Congma Temple was built in the late Sui and early Tang dynasties. It has flourished through the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with a great number of monks and a thriving incense culture, making it a renowned Buddhist sacred site on the Jiaodong Peninsula. Historical records say that Yu Chijingde, a founding general of the Tang Dynasty, passed through this area on his eastern campaign. Upon hearing of the sacred reputation of Congma Temple, he came specifically to offer incense and worship the Buddha. He achieved a great victory in the campaign and returned triumphantly. Deeply moved by the spiritual power of the temple’s monks, Yu Chijingde funded the expansion of Congma Temple and stationed troops within Qifeng Mountain. Today, the “General’s Command Platform,” “Horse Drinking Gully,” and “Horse Tethering Stone” used by General Yu Chijingde are still well preserved. For over a thousand years, Buddhist disciples have come here to preach and spread teachings, leaving behind many timeless stories. To this day, Congma Temple preserves over 60 relatively well-maintained historical sites, each with its own moving legend and touching story. Since the War of Resistance, due to various reasons, Congma Temple suffered damage. In order to promote Buddhism and restore the glory of this sacred Buddhist site, the Religious Affairs Bureau of the People's Government of Shandong Province issued Document Lu Zong [1993] No. 17, approving the official reopening of Congma Temple as a Buddhist activity venue. After extensive efforts, on November 1, 2009, Congma Temple held a ceremony for the completion of the Mahavira Hall and the consecration of all Buddha statues. In 1992, when Mr. Zhao Puchu, then President of the Buddhist Association of China, visited the site, he found it overgrown with vegetation and shaded by verdant bamboo, giving an impression of dense clusters, along with an ancient temple. He then rewrote the three characters “Cong Ma Yuan” (丛麻院), which have been passed down to this day. The restoration of Congma Temple is the shared aspiration of people from all walks of life and devoted Buddhists, and represents a major step in promoting Buddhism. We sincerely hope that Buddhists and people from all over the world will show compassion and support by donating funds to help with the construction. Your kind deeds will be engraved on the Merit Stele and remembered for generations. This act of generosity is a rare opportunity to cultivate abundant blessings, and through this connection, you are certain to gain immeasurable merits and profound Buddhist benefits.