Longche Temple

Longche Temple

Longche Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Longche Temple is located in Longche Village, Longfengqiao Town, Beibei District, Chongqing. Established during the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, it has a history of approximately 500 years and was originally named "Yangque Temple." Surrounded by rolling green mountains that resemble lotus blossoms, it is also known as "Diecui Chanlin."

The temple sits at the convergence of the Huaying Mountain and Zhongliang Mountain ranges, boasting unique scenery and a spiritually rich environment. A dragon vein is said to penetrate the mountains and caves here, making it the ancestral vein of the Bayue scenic area and believed to be the dwelling place of divine dragons. Hence, the sacred peak is called "Longju Mountain" (Dragon Perched Mountain), and the temple takes its name from the mountain, originally called "Longju Temple." It was once one of the three major ancient temples in Beibei District (Jinyun Temple, Wenquan Temple, and Longche Temple). After the temple’s establishment, Buddhist activities flourished, eminent monks emerged in great numbers, and the site became a place where divine responses were felt and prayers were answered. Pilgrims flocked to the mountain without cease. As a result, the character "Ju" (perched) was changed to "Che" (chariot), symbolizing "auspiciousness, progress, and advancement," expressing the hope that with the blessing of the Buddha’s power, the wishes of devotees would come true, bringing them good fortune, wisdom, and all blessings.

The temple underwent three major renovations and expansions—in the ninth year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1617), the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1861), and the seventh year of the Guangxu reign (1883)—gradually developing into a monastic complex that housed over 300 resident monks. After the liberation, the temple gradually fell into disrepair. In 1997, Zhao Rongfa and Zhou Xiujuan, the chairman and his wife of Shanghai Puya Industrial Company, acting as benefactors, built a cemetery on the site and invested heavily in rebuilding the temple. After more than 500 years, Longche Temple regained its monastic grandeur. The merits of the patrons are beyond measure.

Longche Temple is a practice site of the Zen sect of Buddhism. The temple covers an area of over 11 acres, with a total construction area of 3,740 square meters. Its main structures follow a traditional central axis layout, including a memorial archway, the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Guanyin Hall, and the Medicine Buddha Hall. On both sides are side halls, the kitchen, the guest hall, the bell and drum towers, the lay practitioners’ quarters, and the monks’ quarters. The surrounding area is lush with trees, offering a serene and tranquil environment. The halls are majestic, the Buddha statues solemn, and the overall complex is grand and magnificent. The side halls, corridors, pavilions, and towers are all adorned with intricately carved beams and painted rafters, with flying eaves and flowing colors, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and representing fine examples of antique-style architectural art.