Xiangcheng Luyuan Temple

Xiangcheng Luyuan Temple

Xiangcheng Luyuan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Luyuan Temple is located on the north side of Dongcui Street in Nandun Town, Xiangcheng County, Henan Province. It was founded by Emperor Wu Xiao Yan in the fourth year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty (505 AD). During the Zhongjian period (780–783 AD) of Emperor Dezong’s reign in the Tang Dynasty, it was renovated by imperial decree, and the temple became more prosperous than before. It was destroyed during the turmoil at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. In the fifth year of the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1430), the monk Huairun from Niushou rebuilt the temple. In the Zhengde era (1506–1521), the monk Hongjin and local resident Zhang Zhao sold their property to donate for renovations, and the temple remained majestic, attracting many monks. Later, locals Chen Shoushen and Zhang Yangxing carried out further repairs. By the third year of the Xuantong era of the Qing Dynasty (1911), no halls remained, tiles and stones lay in ruins, but two ginkgo trees behind the temple still stood several zhang tall, with trunks over a zhang in circumference, their branches intertwined and reaching skyward, blocking out the sun and exuding a chilling aura even in the height of summer. In 1959, the ginkgo tree on the eastern side was blown down by strong winds. Several years ago, the other ginkgo tree was destroyed in a fire.