Qingyun Chan Temple

Qingyun Chan Temple

Qingyun Chan Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Henan Province.

Qingyun Chan Temple is located on Jinqi Ridge, east of Gaomiao Fan Village in Zhuangtou Town. Jinqi Ridge rises abruptly and boasts an extraordinary presence. At some point in time, a Five Sacred Mountains Temple was built at its highest point. In the early Tang Dynasty, as Buddhism flourished, the Five Sacred Mountains Temple was converted into Qingyun Chan Temple. It was destroyed during the Jin Dynasty by war and later rebuilt during the JingTai era of the Ming Dynasty. As a branch temple of the famous Shangdu Temple in Kaifeng, it was grand in scale, with magnificent halls and countless splendid structures. Even more uniquely, the temple enshrines statues of Sakyamuni, Laozi, and Confucius within the same hall, bringing together Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The ancestral master, celestial generals, and guardian deities all share the same sacred space.

Mountain Gate

Although the temple is no longer what it once was, the four ancient locust trees in front of it possess an extraordinary presence. Though aged and some even hollowed out—allowing people to climb through their trunks—the trees remain lush, green, and full of vitality.

Legend has it that during the Northern Song Dynasty, the story of “Monk Wang Hanging and Beating Bao Longtu, and Yang Paifeng Battling on Jinqi Ridge” took place at Qingyun Chan Temple. It is said that during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty, Liu Cuicui, the beloved daughter of a local landlord named Liu, visited the temple with her mother to offer incense. She was spotted by the temple’s abbot, Monk Wang, who developed improper thoughts and confined Liu Cuicui in a secret chamber inside the temple. Liu’s father reported the incident to the Kaifeng Prefecture. When Bao Zheng (Bao Longtu), disguised, came to investigate, he was discovered by Monk Wang, captured, and hung from a large locust tree in the temple where he was severely beaten. News of this reached the Yang Family Manor in Kaifeng, prompting the family matriarch to dispatch Yang Paifeng to rescue Bao Zheng. Yang Paifeng fought fiercely with Monk Wang on Jinqi Ridge, captured him, and saved Bao Zheng. The ancient locust tree in the temple today is said to be the very one where Bao Zheng was once hung.

Ancient Locust Tree

Qingyun Chan Temple is one of the Buddhist sites open to the public in Weishi County.

- Travel Tips:

Admission: Free

Opening Hours: 7:00–18:00

Address: Gaomiao Fan Village, Zhuangtou Township, Weishi County, Kaifeng City

Address: Gaomiao Fan Village, Zhuangtou Town, Weishi County

Zhuangtou Town: A township under the jurisdiction of Weishi County. Established as Zhuangtou Commune in 1958, it became a township in 1983. Located north of the county seat, the Jialu River flows through the area. Covering an area of 117 square kilometers with a population of 44,000, it has road access. The township administers 35 village committees including Zhuangtou, Xie-, Xiaoying, Gaozhai, Gaojia, Sunzhuang, Tianjia, Qiancao, Houcao, Yujia, Wenjia, Liuji, Peijia, Laoyati, Gaomiaofan, Zhaodi, Wangjia, Xiaofan, Zhengyi, Zheng’er, Chenjia, Jiwang, Heigao, Weijia, Lilin, Xinzhua, Sanyang, Zoujia, Hanji, Ruanjia, Zhujia, Niuji, Majia, Pangyang, and Erzhangjia. The main agricultural products include small… More detailed information about Zhuangtou Town++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Henan Province