LingShou Youju Temple

LingShou Youju Temple

LingShou Youju Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Youju Temple is located on the northern side of Shazidong Village, about 55 kilometers northwest of LingShou County. Surrounded by mountains, the area features picturesque scenery with villages and pagodas complementing each other, lush peaks, and a tranquil environment—hence the name "Youju."

The temple was first built between the late Eastern Wei Dynasty and the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi Dynasty. Gao Can, Governor of Dingzhou and Prince of Zhao Commandery, carried out large-scale renovations and expansions on the original site as a meritorious act for his deceased parents, uncles, elder brother, wife, and himself. According to the *LingShou County Annals*: “Gao Can of Zhao Commandery during the Northern Qi Dynasty carefully selected a scenic spot along the Taihang Mountains, and built Qilin Temple (also known as Youju Temple, or Qilin Monastery) on the sunny side of Zhu Mountain. The temple included over 200 monk quarters and housed more than 2,000 monks. After the fall of the Qi Dynasty, the temple fell into disuse but flourished again during the Yuande era of the Yuan Dynasty. Though the temple buildings no longer retain their former grandeur, the surrounded peaks and serene forests remain undiminished in beauty.” It is evident that the temple’s halls and monastic quarters had already been destroyed in earlier times. Today, the site of Youju Temple preserves one brick pagoda, one stone pagoda pillar, four stone steles, and 21 stone Buddhist statues, all serving as historical testimonies to the changes this once-large Buddhist monastery underwent through the ages.

The ancient and solemn brick pagoda of Youju Temple stands proudly at the temple ruins. This seven-tiered, closely-eaved pagoda was rebuilt during the Tang Dynasty, stands approximately 23 meters tall, and has a square base. It was constructed atop a brick platform—the first tier is taller, with each successive tier decreasing slightly in height. Each level features projecting eaves made of layered brick dentils, and the top is crowned with an inverted lotus supporting the steeple. The first tier has a doorway allowing entry inside, where a Northern Qi Dynasty stele and three stone Buddhist statues are enshrined. The six upper tiers house a total of 16 stone Buddhist statues of varying sizes.

The dignified and elegant construction of the Youju Temple Pagoda holds significant value for the study of ancient Chinese architectural history. In 1956, the People's Government of Hebei Province designated the Youju Temple Pagoda as a Provincial-Level Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Transportation Guide

Attraction Address: Shazidong Village, Chenzhuang Town, LingShou County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province

Transit Routes: Take a bus from LingShou County bound for Chenzhuang Town, then transfer to a minibus to reach Shazidong Village.