Zhuolu Qingliang Temple

Zhuolu Qingliang Temple

Zhuolu Qingliang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Qingliang Temple is located on Huangyang Mountain in Zhuolu County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, and was first built during the Tang Dynasty. It was established by Monk Juxi, belonging to the Pure Land sect. This ancient temple underwent multiple renovations throughout history, but by 1949 it had gradually fallen into decline. Only the thousand-year-old pine and cypress trees growing within the temple grounds remain lush and vigorous to this day—some lie like giant dragons, some spread their wings like phoenixes, and some resemble the eaves of a precious temple. They tell the solemnity and vicissitudes of this ancient shrine.

The temple’s stupa courtyard currently preserves over 60 burial stupas of monks from various dynasties, among which the most famous is the funerary stupa of Juxi, the founding monk. In addition, there are over 50 preserved steles, including those for the temple’s founding, reconstruction, and merit recording. The temple houses several Buddhist scriptures, among which the precious edition of the “Mahā Tripitaka” is now preserved by the Zhangjiakou Cultural Bureau.

The ancient temple structures, towers, and pavilions sit at an altitude of 1,500 meters, surrounded by peaks, with ancient pines and verdant cypresses standing in pairs, densely reaching skyward. The area is covered with lush flowers and plants that remain green all year round. From May to October each year, various mountain wildflowers bloom competitively, and wild fruits hang abundantly from the branches. The place enjoys warm winters and cool summers, often with a deep blue sky, gentle breezes, rustling pines, and blends harmoniously with the lotus-petal-like mountain peaks, as well as the sounds of morning bells, evening drums, and Buddhist chants. As visitors have praised: “This is a heavenly paradise on earth.”

According to historical records, Qingliang Temple was first built over 2,000 years ago during the Western Han Dynasty, expanded during the Tang Dynasty, and reached its peak during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties. During the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty, by decree of Hongci, large-scale construction was carried out, including the “Four Heavenly Kings Hall,” “Mahavira Hall,” “Kṣitigarbha Hall,” “Scripture Depository Hall,” bell tower, drum tower, and more. All halls featured glazed tile roofs, carved beams, painted rafters, and were resplendent with gold and splendor. Due to its long history, grand architecture, beautiful scenery, and pleasant climate, emperors such as Kangxi, Qianlong, and Xianfeng all came to the temple to offer incense and worship the Buddha. It also attracted many literati and poets throughout the dynasties, who left behind over 60 authentic inscriptions, steles, and poems. These hold extremely valuable significance for the study of history and calligraphy.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, under the leadership of the municipal and county governments, the temple buildings were renovated. At that time, the resident monastic community had grown to over 50 monks, with complete halls, wafting incense, and the mellow sound of temple bells, presenting the appearance of a blessed immortal land. During this period, Qingliang Temple was renowned as the “Famous Temple of Northern China.”

After the start of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, the temple was vandalized and the Buddha statues were destroyed.

In May 1995 (on the fourth day of the fourth lunar month, the Buddha’s Birthday), renovation was initiated and presided over by Monk Guojun. The temple buildings include the Mahavira Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Kṣitigarbha Hall, flesh-body Hall, meditation hall, Sangharama Hall, Patriarchs’ Hall, and the Five Contemplations Dining Hall. The flesh-body Buddha, kasaya (monk’s robe), and hand bell in the flesh-body hall have been identified as county-level protected cultural relics. The existing ancient bell, kasaya, and incense burner are all Ming Dynasty artifacts and are considered the temple’s treasured relics.

The modern Qingliang Temple can be described as a contemporary preaching monastery and practice site, attracting tens of thousands of worshippers and tourists from across the country, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan every year. Especially during major Buddhist events, pilgrims come in an endless stream, bringing religious activities to a climax.

To provide visitors with a better travel experience, in 2004, the Zhuolu County Party Committee and County Government renovated the mountain paths of Xiaopan, building steps, repairing trails, and planting nearly 10,000 trees, greatly improving the surrounding environment. Today’s Qingliang Temple, with its majestic halls and solemn, exquisite Buddha and Bodhisattva statues, welcomes an increasing number of domestic and international worshippers and tourists.