Wanzhou Ciyun Temple

Wanzhou Ciyun Temple

Wanzhou Ciyun Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Chongqing Municipality.

Wanzhou Ciyun Temple is located in the western part of Wanzhou District, Chongqing, originally named Ciyun Nunnery. It lies upstream of the Three Gorges scenic area of the Yangtze River, adjacent to Taibai Rock to the north and neighboring Wulong Pond to the south. Nestled against mountains and beside water, shaded by lush green trees, it boasts beautiful and pleasant scenery. The temple was first built in the first year of the Xianfeng reign during the Qing Dynasty (1851), boasting a history of over 150 years. Its founding nun, Shi Chonglian, was once honored with an imperial commendation by Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty, becoming a renowned master of her time. Ciyun Temple is a well-known Buddhist site in Wanzhou, with a long and ancient cultural history, making it an ideal place for religious activities as well as tourism, sightseeing, and leisure.

Due to historical reasons and years of neglect, the original Mahavira Hall was burned down, leaving only the ancient mountain gate and some auxiliary rooms. With the implementation of the Party’s religious policies and the promotion of Buddhist culture, the temple was rebuilt in 1989. It now covers an area of nearly ten acres, with the temple complex facing east and situated on a west-east axis. It is approximately 45 meters wide from north to south and 90 meters long from east to west. The terrain is naturally undulating, sloping from north to south with an elevation difference of over 30 meters. The current Ciyun Temple features majestic halls, solemn Buddha statues, the resonant sound of Buddhist chants, birdsong, fragrant flowers, and increasingly thriving incense offerings. Devotees and tourists come from all directions, flocking in an endless stream.

The temple complex currently mainly consists of front and rear mountain gates, the Mahavira Hall, Yuantong Hall, Three Saints Hall, Sangharama Hall, Randon Hall, Maitreya Hall, and Skanda Hall. The main mountain gate serves as the primary exit of the temple complex. It is a double-eaved, antique-style structure, with the three large characters “Ciyun Temple” inscribed on the horizontal plaque above the gate, written by Zhao Puchu.

The Mahavira Hall enshrines: Sakyamuni Buddha, Medicine Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. The central figure in the Yuantong Hall is the golden statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, with the image of Amitabha Buddha in her celestial crown — a representation widely regarded as the most compassionate form of Guanyin. The back of the hall houses a 24-armed jade Guanyin from Myanmar, while the sides display the Thirty-two Manifestations of Guanyin Bodhisattva appearing in various buddha-realms to liberate and guide beings. The Three Saints Hall enshrines the statues of the Western Trinity. The Sangharama Hall is dedicated to Sangharama Bodhisattva. The Randon Hall enshrines the ancient Randon Buddha. The Maitreya Hall houses the Maitreya Bodhisattva. The Skanda Hall is dedicated to Skanda Bodhisattva.

In addition, the temple has newly built a vegetarian dining area called Suxiangzhai, providing vegetarian meals and a relaxing space for devotees and visitors.

Address: Section 1, Shalong Road, Wanzhou District, Chongqing