Danxia Temple Pagoda Forest

Danxia Temple Pagoda Forest

The Danxia Temple Pagoda Forest is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Danxia Temple is located in Mawo Village, Liushan Town, Nanzhao County, on the southern foothills of Danxia Mountain, and is one of the eight famous temples in the Central Plains. The temple was originally built in the fourth year of the Changqing era of the Tang Dynasty (824 AD), initially named Hongxia Temple, and later renamed Danxia Temple. Historical records state that “Danxia Temple began in the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Song Dynasty, was destroyed by war in the Yuan Dynasty, and was revived in the Ming Dynasty.”

Danxia Temple and its Pagoda Forest

Danxia Temple covers an area of approximately 20,000 square meters, with over 100 existing structures, all built during the Qing Dynasty. The entire temple complex faces southwest and is situated to the northeast, laid out in a three-courtyard formation. It follows the contour of the mountain, starting low in the front and rising higher toward the back, with a stepped elevation from front to back. Along the central axis are, in sequence: the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Vairocana Hall, and the Abbot’s Quarters. On the west side are wing rooms and guest rooms, and at the rear are the garden and the Natural Ancestral Hall, forming a complete temple layout.

The Buddhist pagodas of Danxia Temple are distributed on the east, south, and west sides of the temple grounds. There are currently six Yuan Dynasty pagodas, four Ming Dynasty pagodas, and four Qing Dynasty stone pagodas. Among them, the Qing Dynasty stone pagodas feature unique designs and exquisite carvings, which are rare throughout the country. Within the temple and its surrounding areas, there are over ten ancient trees dating back to the Song and Ming Dynasties, including cypresses, ginkgos, and blue sandalwoods. Since its establishment, Danxia Temple has been a renowned Buddhist sacred site in southwestern Henan, often referred to as “Eight Hundred Li of Funiu, Five Hundred Li of Danxia.”

In 1986, it was designated as a Provincial Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the People's Government of Henan Province. In 1992, it was approved by the Henan Provincial People's Government as an open Buddhist site.

On October 7, 2019, Danxia Temple and its Pagoda Forest were included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Liushan Town: Liushan Town is located on the southern foothills of the Funiu Mountains, 13 kilometers east of Nanzhao County. It borders Lushan County to the north, neighbors Cuizhuang Township and Chengjiao Township to the west, connects with Taishanmiao Township to the south, and links to Xiaodian Township to the east. The town administers 21 administrative villages and 246 villager groups, with a total population of 31,903, mostly Han Chinese. Ethnic minorities mainly include Hui, Manchu, and Tibetan.

The town features mostly low mountains and hills, with the overall terrain sloping from south to north in a narrow, elongated distribution. The total area under its jurisdiction is 176 square kilometers. The highest peak, Guanshan Mountain, stands at an elevation of 1,134.4 meters. Major rivers include... More detailed information about Liushan Town++

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Henan Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units