Hejin Yuquan Temple

Hejin Yuquan Temple

Yuquan Temple is located on Qifu Mountain in Beizhang Village, Hejin, about 10 kilometers from the county town. With a long history of over 1,400 years, it was first built in the 14th year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty. Its predecessor was the ancestral temple of the Geng State during the Shang and Zhou periods, and later served as the earliest family temple of the Zhao family during the Spring and Autumn period. The historical story of "Orphan of Zhao" took place here. The newly built Yuquan Temple follows the mountain’s contour, with halls facing east and covering an area of 15 acres. It adopts the architectural layout of the Ming and Qing dynasties, featuring a symmetrical central axis, and includes, in sequence, the Mountain Gate, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Great Compassion Hall, and the Multi-Treasure Buddha Pagoda. The layout is rigorous, neat, and symmetrical. The buildings are exquisitely crafted, majestic, spiritually uplifting, and enjoy flourishing incense offerings. It is an excellent tourist destination for Buddhist worship and sightseeing.

[Cultural Feature of Yuquan Temple Scenic Area — Water-Splashing Festival]

The Water-Splashing Festival, also known as the "Bathing the Buddha Festival," originated as a ritual of ancient Brahmanism and was later adopted by Buddhism. It has been passed down as a traditional Buddhist cultural event for hundreds of years. On the morning of the festival, people of all ages dress in festive attire and carry clean water to the temple to bathe the Buddha statues, praying for the Buddha’s blessings. After the bathing ritual, people begin splashing water on each other as a form of blessing, hoping that the sacred water will wash away illness and disasters, bringing about a beautiful and happy life. To inherit Buddhist traditional culture, Yuquan Temple holds a Water-Splashing Festival prayer event every year on the 19th day of the sixth lunar month (the day Guanyin Bodhisattva attains enlightenment), praying for favorable weather, peace, and prosperity. In the evening, there is also a bonfire party and cultural performances, creating a lively and spectacular atmosphere.

Scenic Area Address: Beizhang Village, Chaijia Township, Hejin City, Shanxi Province

Scenic Area Opening Hours:

Off-season: From November each year to before April of the following year, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Peak season: From April to before November each year, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Chaijia Township: "Chaijia Township borders Jishan County to the east, connects with Liwang Township of Wanrong County to the south, leans against Xiaoliang Township and Chengguan Town to the west, and faces the Fen River to the north, covering a total area of 45.1 square kilometers. The area enjoys superior water conservancy conditions and is one of the high-yield grain, cotton, and oil production regions of the city.

The area’s Shanwang Township was the capital of the Geng State during the Spring and Autumn period. Township enterprises have not yet developed on a large scale, and the economy is somewhat less developed compared to other townships in the city. It administers 12 administrative villages: Shangshi, Zhuangtou, Xianniu, Dingjia, Chaijia, Shanwang, Xiacun, Beizhang, Fanjiayu, Wucun, Beiyuan, and Cangdi.

".…… Detailed information about Chaijia Township++