Guangde Temple in Xiangyang

Guangde Temple in Xiangyang

Guangde Temple in Xiangyang is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guangde Temple was originally named Yunju Temple. It is located about 13 kilometers west of Xiangyang County. The temple complex is square-shaped, covering an area of approximately 30,000 square meters, and is surrounded by a small stream about 10 meters wide. With numerous halls, towering ancient trees, moss-covered grounds, and exceptional tranquility.

Guangde Temple

Guangde Temple

The temple was first built during the Zhenguan era (627–649) of the Tang Dynasty and was originally named “Yunju Chan Temple.” It was relocated here from Longzhong during the Chenghua era (1465–1487) of the Ming Dynasty. It has retained its name “Guangde Chan Forest” ever since, as bestowed by Emperor Xianzong’s imperial calligraphy. The temple originally housed various structures including the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Sangharama Hall, the Skanda Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Scripture Depository, and the Abbot’s Quarters. Today, only the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Scripture Depository, the Abbot’s Quarters, and the Multitreasure Pagoda remain. The Hall of Heavenly Kings features a flush-gable roof but has lost much of its original charm due to human damage; while the interior remains intact, the exterior has been repurposed as residential buildings. The Scripture Depository is a double-eaved flush-gable structure, rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. The Mahavira Hall has a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof with upturned eaves. The Multitreasure Pagoda was built between 1494 and 1496 during the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty. It is a brick-and-stone structure imitating wood, standing approximately 17 meters tall and consisting of a base and a spire. The base is 7 meters high, octagonal in shape, with shallow eaves stacked on top and a low foundation below. The corners are built with brick pillars, and the stone carvings include dragon heads. Each wall features niches housing stone-carved Buddha statues seated on lotus thrones, as well as four stone-carved arched gates per wall. Above the main gate, a stone plaque horizontally inscribes “Multitreasure Pagoda” in bold characters, beneath which three “Buddha” characters are engraved—stern, powerful, and vigorous. The spire holds five smaller towers, with the central one being the main tower, standing 10 meters tall. It sits atop a Sumeru pedestal, with a lotus throne above, connecting to the bell-shaped main body of the pagoda; above that is a finial, topped with an iron canopy.

Surrounding the main tower are four hexagonal five-story dense-eave brick towers, each equipped with Buddha niches. In total, 45 stone-carved seated Buddha statues are embedded in the upper, lower, inner, and outer parts of the towers, hence the name Multitreasure Pagoda. Next to the ancient pagoda stands a ginkgo tree, about 35 meters tall and requiring four people to encircle. Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty, emulating Emperor Wu of Han’s act of granting titles to pines and cypresses, bestowed upon it the title of “Grand General.” Later, Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty further honored it as the “Responsive Grand General,” and there is a stele nearby that seems to commemorate this. The Multitreasure Pagoda has now been listed as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Wolong Town: Located in the western suburbs of Xiangyang City, on the southern bank of the Han River, Wolong Town derives its name from the fact that Zhuge Liang, the statesman and military strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, once “toiled in farming and studied diligently here, discussing the affairs of the world.” The town borders the urban area to the east, Nanzhang County to the south, Gucheng County to the west, and the Han River to the north. Covering a total area of 283 square kilometers, Wolong Town has 97,000 mu of cultivated land, 136,000 mu of forested land, and 40,000 mu of tidal flats. It administers 45 administrative villages, two community committees, and 255 villager groups, with a total population of 108,000, including 30,000 urban residents. Benefiting from its location against the ancient Longzhong and surrounding the Han River, the town enjoys unique geographical advantages… More details about Wolong Town++