Xuanhua Hufu Temple

Xuanhua Hufu Temple

Xuanhua Hufu Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Hufu Temple is located on Lianjiazhai Mountain, about 1.5 kilometers southwest of Wangjiayao in Tacun Township, Xuanhua County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. Covering an area of approximately 0.5 square kilometers, the temple is said to have been originally built during the Ming Dynasty and renovated during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty. Following the mountain’s contour along a shaded ancient path that winds upward, halfway up the mountainside at the foot of a cliff lies a water curtain cave, from which a stream of clear water gushes out from the mouth of a stone lion at the cave entrance... After being tested, the water is identified as “strontium” mineral water, safe for direct drinking. Above the cave entrance on Erpo Mountain stands the main hall of the Water Mother Palace, with a plaque above the gate inscribed with the three large characters “Lin Tao Dong” (Shower Cave). Inside the hall is enshrined the statue of the Water Mother Goddess, hence it is commonly known as the Grandmother Temple. Two Dragon Kings are positioned on either side of the Water Mother. Above the Water Mother Palace is the West Corridor, where three rooms house the Guanyin Grand Temple, containing a statue of the Child-Giving Guanyin. To the north of the Water Mother Palace, along the pathway and up the steps through the front corridor, you reach the temple courtyard. Upon entering the mountain gate, there are two small pavilions in the yard, one in the south which is the Drum Tower, and one in the north which is the Bell Tower, with a 500-kilogram bell hanging from it.

The courtyard houses a total of nineteen halls and meditation rooms. The three northern main rooms serve as the Buddha Hall, where a bronze statue of the Laughing Maitreya Buddha and a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha are enshrined. The western section has eleven rooms, with the central three-room hall called the Mount Tai Hall, dedicated to the Goddess Bixia Yuanjun (the Holy Mother of Mount Tai). The eight side rooms flanking the main hall are accommodations for resident monks. The southern five rooms function as the kitchen, providing meals for pilgrims and visitors who come for festivals, worship, or prayers. On the east side of the courtyard is a blue-tiled floral wall. Towering ancient elm trees shade the courtyard, while the halls feature carved beams, painted rafters, green-painted eaves, red beams, and dark-green tiles, all contributing to a resplendent and majestic atmosphere. Outside the courtyard, rolling mountains and lush, dense forests create a vibrant green landscape. The entire architectural complex harmonizes beautifully with its mountain-water surroundings, arranged in a well-balanced layout along the slopes. Visiting this place feels like entering a celestial realm, giving one a transcendent, otherworldly sensation.

Legend has it that every year on the 18th day of the fourth lunar month, preparations for the temple fair begin half a month in advance. The presiding monk, together with local village officials, gathers food and donations to organize the event. Due to the temple’s wide influence, the fair attracts people from surrounding villages, as well as from Beijing, Datong, and the northeast. The fair features vendors, opera performances, prayer ceremonies, and incense offerings, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. Local villagers flock to the Grandmother Temple to pray for children, wealth, prosperity, status, good marriage matches, and safety. They burn incense, make vows, and donate money and goods in continuous streams, which is why Hufu Temple enjoys enduring popularity and flourishing incense offerings.

The temple has endured many trials over the years. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, it faced several challenges. Initially, the copper Buddha statues were destroyed, and the iron bell was smashed. Later, during the Cultural Revolution’s campaign to “smash the Four Olds,” all the statues inside the halls were demolished, and any decorative patterns or carvings representing traditional architecture on the exterior were scraped away. Eventually, due to lack of residents and years of neglect, the temple fell into disrepair, collapsing into ruins with broken walls and debris. Now, with the country prospering and society harmonious, and with strong support from the county cultural relics bureau, the township government, and higher authorities, efforts have been made based on historical records and local legends. Under the invitation of devout patrons, Buddhist monk Shijue Xingzhi has undertaken the restoration of Hufu Temple to its original appearance. A bell weighing over 500 kilograms and a drum with a diameter of more than one meter have been brought back. Statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha), Guanyin Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, and the Dragon Kings have been recreated, and the temple is beginning to take shape once again.

Transportation Guide

Scenic Area Address: Lianjiazhai Mountain, about 1.5 kilometers southwest of Wangjiayao in Tacun Township, Xuanhua County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province