Sanhe Lingshan Temple

Sanhe Lingshan Temple

Sanhe Lingshan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Sanhe Lingshan Temple is located 7.5 kilometers northeast of Sanhe City in the Beijing-Tianjin area, at an elevation of 877 meters. It is where the Yan Mountain range culminates and abruptly forms a peak. Though not very high, the mountain features beautiful peaks, connects to the entire Yan Mountain range to the east, and is surrounded by plains on the other three sides. Springs emerge from the southern foothills of Lingshan, making it the first natural scenic area in the Beijing-Tianjin area that combines mountains, water, forests, and historical sites. It is especially famous for its springs, known as "Lingshan Shuyu" (Lingshan Jade-Flushing Springs), and is considered the best of the Eight Scenic Spots of Sanhe. It is an excellent destination for tourism and leisure.

The original Sanhe Lingshan Temple was located on the mid-northern slope of the western part of Lingshan. The exact year of its construction is unknown, but it is recorded that from January of the first year to April of the second year of the Tongzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty, the main hall and the eastern and western side halls of Lingshan Temple were renovated. This project was completed on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month in the second year of Tongzhi, which is why this date was designated as the "Lingshan Temple Fair." Every year on this day, merchants and visitors would flock to the area—both in front of and behind the mountain, and on the slopes and base—while worshippers prayed and burned incense, folk artists performed operas and paraded, and scholars composed poetry and inscriptions, creating a lively scene. The original temple had three main halls and eastern and western courtyards, totaling 40 rooms. The main hall was the Bodhisattva Hall, the western side hall was the Bodhidharma Hall, and the eastern side hall was the Guan Yu Hall. To the south were five back-facing rooms, with the middle one serving as the mountain gate. In front of the main hall, there were three rooms on each side, along with additional eastern and western courtyards. The western courtyard had a main building with five rooms and six western side rooms, used as storage for Buddhist ritual items. The eastern courtyard had a main building with four rooms and three eastern side rooms, used as monks’ quarters and a kitchen. Outside the mountain gate stood a bell and drum tower.

Additionally, a theater stage was built at the southern foot of the mountain, facing north, allowing people sitting on the hillside to watch performances from above. To the east of the theater stage, there was also a Temple of the Goddess. Unfortunately, aside from the theater stage—which survived until after the liberation before being demolished—all other structures, along with Lingshan Temple, were burned to ashes by the Japanese invaders in a great fire. Only a solitary pagoda on the mountain and some remnants of temple foundations remain today. The once red walls, yellow tiles, halls, and bell towers have all vanished. Even so, many people still visit on Sundays and during the Lingshan Temple Fair.

To promote culture, revive the spiritual significance of Lingshan, and restore its former prosperity and liveliness, the cadres and residents of Datanghui Village spontaneously organized efforts, raised funds from various sources, and hired skilled craftsmen. In 1998, they rebuilt Lingshan Temple on its original site. The newly constructed Lingshan Temple includes three main halls across four buildings, eastern and western side halls, a bell and drum tower, and various spaces for worship, chanting, and Buddhist activities, totaling 15 structures with 89 rooms and covering an area of 2,125 square meters. Thirty-seven Buddha statues were enshrined in the halls. This project was completed on May 30, 1999. The late Zhao Puchu, then President of the Buddhist Association of China, inscribed plaques for the Temple’s Heavenly King Hall and Mahavira Hall. Shi Yandaoyi, a council member of the Beijing Buddhist Association and presiding monk of Beijing’s Lingguang Temple, personally presided over the consecration ceremony. Since then, Lingshan Temple has been open to visitors, attracting a continuous stream of worshippers and tourists.