Wanghailing Temple

Wanghailing Temple

Wanghailing Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Located about 5 kilometers north along the Raoqian Highway in Qiandong Town, Raoping County, there is a hill named "Wanghailing" for its view of the boundless South China Sea. The area is covered with lush trees and refreshing winds. Wanghailing Temple is built in this tranquil setting. Founded in the Ming Dynasty and reconstructed in 1988, it is renowned in the Chaoshan region and nearby Zhao’an in southern Fujian for its three finely carved statues of Guanyin, which have been preserved since ancient times. It is a sacred site in Buddhist culture.

The temple was originally built during the Ming Dynasty, initiated by Ms. Lin from the Liu family of Tiexin Village, Qiandong. It was renovated in the Bingyin year (1806) of the Jiaqing era in the Qing Dynasty (May) and again in the Gengchen year (1880) of the Guangxu era. Over time, due to the passage of years and changes in human circumstances, the temple fell into disrepair. In 1988, it was revitalized through the efforts of Ms. Mai Chan-zhen, and in November of that year, more than ten devotees, led by Ms. Mai Chan-xian, a compatriot from Hong Kong, donated funds for its reconstruction. The main structure and the South Courtyard were fully completed the following year.

The temple features a unique double-“sword-hilt” fully enclosed palatial structure. Notably, the upper hall is situated to the east and the lower hall to the west, facing each other, with the mountain gate located between them facing south. Outside the gate, there is also a monk’s quarters, making a total of ten halls, ten rooms, and eight courtyards, covering an area of 1,500 square meters. Upon entering the mountain gate, there is a small antechamber, with corridors outside leading to the upper and lower halls. The upper hall is the Mahavira Hall, adorned with decorations such as colorful porcelain of twin phoenixes facing a peony, presenting a magnificent golden splendor. The lower hall houses the Guanyin Hall, featuring a carved kylin facing a fire treasure. Inside the hall are three exquisitely crafted and widely renowned statues of Guanyin, along with Shancai (a disciple) and Longnü (the Dragon Girl). Above, there is a plaque inscribed with “Universal Salvation of the Compassionate Ferry,” flanked by couplets. Between the two halls lies a uniquely designed courtyard, without drainage ditches around its perimeter, yet it never floods even during heavy rain, and any accumulated water disappears immediately once the rain stops. Nowadays, the temple has been completely renovated, set in a tranquil environment with pleasant weather—warm in winter and cool in summer—making it a highly desirable destination.

Source: Chaozhou Government Website

Qiandong Town: Located at the western gateway of Raoping County, Qiandong Town borders Huanggang Town (the county seat) to the east, Yunhong Town of Chenghai District and Tiepu Town of Xiangqiao District in Shantou City to the west, Jianzhou Town to the south, and Gaotang Town and Zhangxi Town to the north. The town covers a total area of 136 square kilometers, including 25,500 mu of arable land, 88,000 mu of mountainous land, and 5,000 mu of beach land. It has a total population of 98,161 and administers 25 village committees, 3 community neighborhood committees, and 2 fruit and forestry farms. In 2016, the town's industrial output value reached 3.737 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.5%; there were 19 large-scale industrial enterprises with an output value of 3.0... More detailed information about Qiandong Town ++