Danxia Temple Scenic Area

Danxia Temple Scenic Area

Danxia Temple Scenic Area is a cultural tourism attraction.

Danxia Temple is located in the northeastern part of Nanzhao County, about five kilometers north of Liushan Town. Initially named Hongxia Temple or Xianxia Temple due to the red soil of the surrounding hills, it was later renamed Danxia Temple. The temple complex is backed by Mangduo Mountain, flanked by Qinglong Mountain on the left and Baihu Mountain on the right, with nearby Hongzhizhu Mountain, and distant Dangzi Mountain serving as a shield and Linglong Mountain as a counterpart, creating a majestic and serene atmosphere. The Jiulong River meanders gracefully in front of the temple, offering a beautiful and lush environment.

Danxia Temple is a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit and one of the eight famous temples in Henan Province, as well as the foremost temple in the Funiu Mountains and a sacred site of Chan Buddhism in southern Henan. From a tourism perspective, this scenic area centers around Danxia Temple and includes several parts: the temple complex, pagoda forest, Qinglong Mountain, Baihu Mountain, ancient and notable trees, and the entrance area. The greatest advantage of this scenic area is its embrace by mountains and waters, seamlessly blending cultural and natural elements, especially the picturesque temple surroundings of Danxia Temple. Additionally, its proximity to the county town makes it a highly accessible and attractive tourist destination.

(1) Temple Complex: Located in Mawan Village, the temple was initially built in the fourth year of the Changqing era of the Tang Dynasty (824 AD), flourished in the Song Dynasty, was destroyed by fire in the Yuan Dynasty, revived in the Ming Dynasty, and underwent multiple reconstructions in the Qing Dynasty. The current structures date back to the Qing Dynasty, characterized by their grandeur and classic elegance. Danxia Temple consists of 110 halls and houses 49 Buddha statues. At its peak, it housed over 500 monks, covering a total area of 60,000 square meters. The complex includes the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Vairocana Hall, Patriarch Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Guanyin Hall, Abbot’s Quarters, Founders’ Hall, Scripture Depository, and dining courtyard, all exuding grandeur. Eight stone steles from the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties remain on-site, documenting the rise, decline, and transformation of Danxia Temple. To the left of the temple lies Qinglong Mountain, to the right Baihu Mountain, with the Jiulong River winding in front. The surrounding two-square-kilometer ancient cypress forest is lush and verdant. Historically, it was known as "Eight Hundred Li of Funiu, Five Hundred Li of Danxia." On the back slope of the temple complex stands the Lansheng Tower, surrounded by various red-leaf plants such as Huanglvchai, Wubei, and Torch Pine. The entire temple surroundings are planted with red-flower plants like red plum, begonia, and crape myrtle, as well as red-leaf plants like red-leaf barberry and red-leaf plum, enhancing the "Danxia" ambiance.

(2) Qinglong Mountain: Qinglong Mountain is steep and towering, resembling a giant dragon raising its head and roaring. A natural Buddhist cave halfway up the mountain was the initial hermitage of Master Ziran when he first came to Danxia for spiritual practice.

(3) Reclining Buddha Mountain: Also known as Dangzi Mountain. From atop Qinglong Mountain, one can see the "giant" of Dangzi Mountain lying on its back, vividly lifelike. A large karst cave halfway up the mountain features crisscrossing stalactites and stalagmites, creating a spectacular sight.

(4) Baihu Mountain: Baihu Mountain is majestic and imposing, while Spider Mountain is small and delicate, resembling a ruby embedded beside the temple.

(5) Pagoda Forest: In the early years of liberation, Danxia Temple was surrounded by numerous ancient pagodas, even surpassing the scale of Shaolin Temple. Today, only a dozen or so remain scattered, all built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, serving as burial grounds for monks of Danxia Temple. Among the intact ones are five brick pagodas from the Yuan Dynasty, five from the Ming Dynasty, and four from the Qing Dynasty.

(6) Cypress Forest: The cypress forest of Danxia Temple is the largest among Buddhist sites in China. Ancient trees tower into the sky, and emerald cypresses provide dense shade, arranged according to the Yin-Yang and Eight Trigrams layout.

(7) Numerous Ancient and Notable Trees: Danxia Temple is embraced by distant hills, bordered by nearby villages, backed by mountain ranges, and fronted by water sources. It has a tower that guards the mountain and a bridge that connects to the town. Two ancient cypresses within the temple, along with the male and female Seven-Star Ginkgo trees in front, are said to have been planted during the Tang and Song dynasties, dating back a thousand years. The temple also features camphor trees, white melon trees, pagoda pines, hollow sandalwood trees, and a grapevine lattice of cypress and chestnut, all adding to the temple's classic and elegant charm. Two winged cypresses growing side by side on either side of the steps in front of the Abbot’s Quarters are Song Dynasty cypresses, nearly a thousand years old.

Liushan Town: Liushan Town is located at the southern foot of the Funiu Mountains, 13 kilometers east of Nanzhao County Town. 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 with Xiaodian Township to the east. The town governs 21 administrative villages and 246 villager groups, with a total population of 31,903, mostly Han Chinese, along with ethnic minorities including Hui, Manchu, and Tibetan.

The town features mostly low mountains and hills, with a general terrain that is lower in the south and higher in the north, stretching narrowly. It covers a total area of 176 square kilometers, with the highest peak, Guanshan Mountain, reaching an elevation of 1,134.4 meters. Major rivers include... More detailed information about Liushan Town ++

The town features mostly low mountains and hills, with an overall terrain that is lower in the south and higher in the north, stretching in a narrow, elongated shape. 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++