Weide Temple

Weide Temple

Weide Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Weide Temple is a Buddhist temple located in Qinzhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, situated on Ulei Ridge within the Sanniang Bay Tourist Scenic Area.

Historically, Qinzhou, with over 1,400 years of rich history, was once an area abundant in Buddhist temples, boasting a profound Buddhist cultural heritage. The city’s Dasi Town derived its name from the concentration of temples in the area, which had deep roots among Buddhist followers. According to the Qinzhou County Annals, before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, there were still Buddhist activity sites in Qinzhou City such as “Chongning Temple, Beifu Temple, and Nunnery Temple,” but they no longer exist due to various reasons. After the liberation, Qinzhou’s Buddhist followers could only conduct religious activities in makeshift chanting halls converted from old residential houses, which led to many inconveniences and frequent disputes. The chanting hall, after several relocations, was finally situated at No. 66 Xinsheng Street, Erma Road, in the urban area. However, being still located in the center of a residential neighborhood, the gatherings during Buddhist events often disturbed the daily lives of surrounding residents with crowded crowds and noisy sounds. In addition, due to space limitations, the chanting hall could not be expanded. As a result, the demand among Buddhist followers to relocate the activity site became increasingly urgent. Therefore, with the approval of the relevant autonomous region departments and the consent of the municipal government, the application to “relocate the Qinzhou Buddhist activity site” was granted. The chanting hall was disbanded, and the Qinzhou urban Buddhist activity site was relocated to Ulei Ridge within the Sanniang Bay Tourist Scenic Area to establish Weide Temple. However, relocating the activity site required substantial financial investment, which the Qinzhou Buddhist Activity Site Management Committee alone could not accomplish. At a time when Qinzhou City was intensifying efforts to attract investment and vigorously develop the Sanniang Bay Tourist Scenic Area, invited by the Qinzhou Buddhist Management Committee, Guangxi Yongsuo Transportation and Energy Investment Company agreed to provide funding and collaborate in relocating and constructing Qinzhou’s new Buddhist activity site — Weide Temple.

As a key project in the overall plan of the Sanniang Bay Tourist Scenic Area, the Weide Temple construction project has a total estimated investment of 68 million yuan, covering an area of 658 mu, including 66 mu for building construction and 592 mu for temple supporting facilities and landscaping. The project plans to construct 20 halls including the Mahavira Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Hall, and the Kṣitigarbha Hall, as well as structures such as the Sea Convergence Pagoda, the Number One Scholar Pagoda, sightseeing pavilions, terraces, towers, and various cultural landscapes including gardens and calligraphy stele forests. Backed by Ulei Ridge and built along the mountain slope, the temple faces the vast Beibu Gulf. The entire temple complex is designed and constructed in the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, appearing majestic, solemn, and imposing amidst the surrounding mountains and sea. Upon completion, the Weide Temple construction project will not only provide a venue for Buddhist monks and followers but also offer a range of services for tourists seeking leisure, summer retreats, and sightseeing, becoming a scenic attraction within the Sanniang Bay Tourist Scenic Area.

The first phase of the Weide Temple construction project, planned to be completed before the May Day holiday in 2005, will involve an investment of 8 million yuan. It includes the construction of the temple mountain gate, the Heavenly King Hall, the Bell and Drum Tower, the ritual instrument distribution center, the Mahavira Hall, the monks’ quarters, and the Number One Scholar Pagoda, all situated along the central axis of the entire architectural complex. Among them, the most significant part — the Mahavira Hall — is exceptionally grand, standing 29 meters high, 48 meters wide, and 40 meters deep, with a specially crafted 8-meter-tall Buddha statue to be enshrined inside.