Bie Feng Ancient Temple

Bie Feng Ancient Temple

Bie Feng Ancient Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Chaozhou City.

Bie Feng Ancient Temple is currently one of the most popular temples in the Chaozhou area in terms of incense burning. Nestled in a mountain valley by the Han River, the temple boasts beautiful natural scenery and serves as a rare tranquil retreat in the suburbs. Aside from praying for peace and blessings, it is also an excellent destination for nature exploration, with surrounding peaks open to climbing and offering stunning views.

Bie Feng Ancient Temple is located on Bie Feng Mountain in Xiangpu Village, Yixi Town, facing the Han River and overlooking the scenic beauty of Fengcheng to the south, all surrounded by mountains. Bie Feng Mountain was originally called Fengqi Mountain. During the Ming Dynasty, it was home to one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Chaozhou — "Fengqi Kapok." In the late Qing Dynasty, Lin Dachuan recorded in "Han River Chronicles" that “Fengqi Mountain is also known as Bie Feng Mountain, located ten li northeast of the city. Its beautiful peaks make it a renowned scenic site nearby, often visited by scholars and literati.” The mountain features a “Fengqi Tower,” and within the temple there is a poetic couplet written by Qiu Changzuo: “Crossing the bridge, one immediately senses the dust of the mortal world fade; arriving at the temple, one truly realizes how time lingers.” There is also a wall poem inscribed by Chen Xiji, a Jinshi scholar from Chaozhou during the Song Dynasty who once served as an official in Meizhou: “For a thousand years the tales have passed — who knows which is true? Tall tung trees and slender bamboos sway in the evening breeze. To know the ancient temple where phoenixes once perched on tall trees, just look — today no swallows fly in pairs from its halls.” These accounts show that the “ancient temple” has a long history.

Bie Feng Ancient Temple is divided into front, middle, and rear sections. The front section is a gate tower pavilion, the middle section houses the “Guo Dao Bao Dian” (National Taoist Treasure Hall), which enshrines Guanyin of the South Sea, and the rear section contains the “Da Xiong Bao Dian” (Mahavira Hall), which enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha. The plaques of both halls are said to have been inscribed by Wu Dianbang, a local scholar and Jinshi. Inside the middle hall hangs a plaque inscribed with the words “Wei Zui Shang Sheng” (The Supreme Vehicle), written in 1761 by Zhou Shuoxun, the then Prefect of Chaozhou and acting officer of the Hui-Chao-Jia Circuit. In Buddhism, “vehicle” refers to the means of transport to the Western Paradise. “Bie Feng” is regarded as the sacred site of Guanyin Bodhisattva and thus the best vessel leading to the ideal Buddhist realm. Hence, there is a local Chaozhou saying: “Guanyin of Bie Feng, watching over the land,” meaning that anywhere visible from Bie Feng Mountain is under the protection of Guanyin.

Visiting Bie Feng Ancient Temple requires traversing a spiritual path of nine peaks and eighteen turns. Along the way, there are rest areas and scenic spots such as the “Ji Du Archway,” “Guan Yun Pavilion,” “Guanyin Pavilion,” “Ci Bei Pavilion,” “Tian Hu Pavilion,” “Bie Feng Pavilion,” and “Chan Lu Pavilion,” where visitors and worshippers can take a break in the shade. The temple is surrounded by a large garden-like complex comprising winding paths through greenery, pavilions, a liberation pond, and flower beds.

Qiu Fengjia, a patriotic poet from the late Qing and early Republican period, wrote when visiting Bie Feng Ancient Temple: “In search of tranquility, I head for the mountains, where the laughing Buddha is busy in the hills.” Indeed, Bie Feng Ancient Temple is a distinguished historical and cultural site.

Among the many ancient temples in Chaozhou, Bie Feng Ancient Temple is considered quite famous. Nowadays, most residents of Chaozhou make at least two pilgrimages to the mountain each year, and even people from nearby cities such as Shantou and Jieyang

make special trips to offer incense, which speaks to the temple’s widespread fame.

Ticket Information · Opening Hours

Admission: Free

Address: Bie Feng Mountain, Guiyi Highway, Chao’an District

Route Navigation: Yixi – Fenghuang. After exiting Yixi Town, turn left, then take the second road junction on the dike to the right and follow the mountain road straight up to reach the temple.