Longtan Ancient Temple

Longtan Ancient Temple

Longtan Ancient Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Longtan Ancient Temple

Longtan Ancient Temple in Dongjie Dagang, Suocheng Town, Raoping County, stands against Liuli Ridge. A mountain stream called Niaolong River rushes down beside the northeast side of the temple into a pool, resembling a flying dragon—hence the name. It was first built in the first year of the Xianchun era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1265), renovated during the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhiyuan era, and restored again in 1986, giving it a completely renewed appearance. In February 1996, it was officially registered and opened by the county religious affairs bureau.

The temple’s front and rear halls were donated and built by Wu Leijin from Xialongwan. It features twin swords and was presided over by monks from Southern Fujian’s Putuo Temple. During the Yuan Dynasty’s Zhiyuan era (1314–1368), descendants of the Wu family carried out major renovations. In 1986, with funding from monks of Nanputuo Temple such as Shi Jinxing, overseas Chinese including Yang Muqing and Yang Yunan, and local devotees from Dagang Township, the temple was restored once more, with Monk Shi Guangliang overseeing the project.

Today, Longtan Temple has a total floor area of over 1,000 square meters, divided into three halls, eight rooms, three courtyards, and one plaza.

The mountain gate, called “Xiude Pavilion,” is a double-layered ancient archway with golden-glazed tiles on top. Its upturned eaves are adorned with carvings of sunflowers, dragons, phoenixes, peonies, and magnolia flowers, creating a vibrant splash of colors. The inner plaque reads “Buddha’s Light Shines Everywhere,” accompanied by matching couplets. The corridor displays a reproduced poem titled “Longtan” by Ming Dynasty poet Cao Zong.

The main gate was personally built by Yang Tuzhu. The horizontal plaque reads “Longtan Temple,” also accompanied by couplets.

Stepping through the classic-style window door, you’ll see Guan Yu enshrined on the left and Bodhidharma on the right, with a golden bell and a Dharma drum hanging on either side. In the center hangs a plaque that reads “Mahavira Hall,” beneath which sits a clay sculpture shrine of the Western Buddha.

On either side of the courtyard are octagonal arched doorways leading to the east and west corridors. The eastern corridor leads to the East Hall, where the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva is enshrined. Side rooms flank the hall. The western corridor leads to the West Hall and its side rooms.

With the ancient temple brought back to life, the flying dragon-like waterfall, the resonant sound of bells by the green pool, the lush Liuli trees, and the blooming wildflowers have made Longtan Temple a popular destination for worship and sightseeing nearby.

Information source: Chaozhou Government Website

Suocheng Town: Located at the border between Fujian and Guangdong, Suocheng Town is one of the coastal frontier towns in eastern Guangdong. It lies at 117°2′ east longitude and 23°12′ north latitude, bordering Dacheng Town to the east, Huanggang Town (the county seat) to the west, Zhelin Town to the south, and facing the vast South China Sea with the distant view of Nan’ao Island to the south. To the north, it neighbors Zhao’an County in Fujian Province. With a coastline stretching 11 kilometers, the town is nestled against mountains and by the sea, boasting superior natural conditions. It covers a total area of 50.9 square kilometers, with a population of 41,649 people, and governs 11 villages and 1 neighborhood committee. Suocheng Town boasts abundant mountain and marine resources, rich produce, convenient transportation, and well-developed communication infrastructure... More details about Suocheng Town ++