Chao Yuan Temple Archway

Chao Yuan Temple Archway

The Chao Yuan Temple Archway is a cultural relic protection unit of Chongqing Municipality.

The Chao Yuan Temple Archway is located in Meijiang Township, Bishan County, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. Chao Yuan Temple was built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. The first archway at the mountain gate, standing 6 meters tall and 5.5 meters wide, was constructed at the same time as the temple. Facing south and built from stone in imitation of wooden structure, it features a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, with ten brackets under the eaves, four pillars, three bays, and three stories, resting on a lotus pedestal. In the very center are four elegant regular-script characters reading “欣国太平” (Nation at Peace), carved in an ancient and simple style. The crossbeams and lintels are adorned with 20 exquisitely detailed high-relief carvings, including “two lions, fish intestine, embroidered ball, red phoenix, auspicious cloud patterns, and two dragons fighting over a pearl,” all vividly rendered.

In 2000, the Chao Yuan Temple Archway was listed as one of the first batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Chongqing Municipality by the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government.