Cangxi Linjiang Temple

Cangxi Linjiang Temple

Linjiang Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

Linjiang Temple is located on the west bank of the Jialing River, about 1 kilometer west of the county seat, and is named after its proximity to the Linjiang Ferry. In the first year of the Guangde era of the Tang Dynasty (763), Du Fu (also known as Dushaoling) saw off guests at this ferry and wrote the poem “Seeing Guests Off at Cangxi as Their Boat Heads Back to Langzhong.” To commemorate the visit of this great poet, the locals built a pavilion here and inscribed the three characters “Fangchuan Tai” (Boat-Launching Platform) to the east of the pavilion. The Southern Song poet Lu You traveled north to Nanzheng and visited this temple, leaving behind the line “I remember Cangxi County the most, where I bid farewell to guests under a green pavilion.” During the Ming Dynasty, a cave was carved into the rock cliff to the left of the pavilion to enshrine Buddha. In the Chenghua era (1465–1487) of the Ming Dynasty, Wu Zhi, the education commissioner of Sichuan, wrote in his regulated verse “Stopping the Boat at Cangxi” the lines “The residents live in thatched cottages at the foot of the hill, and the ancient temple perches on the rocks as its bed.” In the 26th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1771), Yu Dahai, the magistrate of the county, quarried stones from here to build the city wall and took the opportunity to construct the temple.

In the 28th year of the Daoguang reign (1818), Magistrate Ze Kuan completed the construction of the Ciyun Pavilion and the stone halls on both sides. In the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign (1871), Magistrate Cai Maokang expanded the site again, adding one cave on each side of the Ciyun Pavilion and ingeniously constructing a stone corridor. Dozens of clay and stone statues of deities were installed, along with wooden pavilions, terraces, verandas, and trees, all enclosed by stone railings and walls, making it the most fully developed version of the temple. Entering through the mountain gate and ascending the stone steps along the railing to the right leads to the Eight Immortals Cave. The central ground floor of the temple houses the stone-carved Weituo Hall, which is 1.6 meters wide and 2.5 meters high. The stone plaque above the door bears the calligraphy “Jialing’s First Tower,” written by the calligrapher Song Hao. Inside the hall stands a solemn stone statue of Weituo facing forward. On the left and right sides of the Weituo Hall, the stone walls are inscribed with four large characters “Shenxian Dongfu” (Immortal’s Cave Abode), written by Magistrate Cai Maokang, each character measuring 1.5 meters in diameter. Opposite the hall originally stood an ancient theater stage. The courtyard between the hall and the stage was planted with exotic flowers and plants, and the stage was surrounded by stone railings. Beyond the railings stood ancient trees. To the west of the temple lies the “Bo Guang Zhu Ying Xuan” (Ripple & Bamboo Shade Pavilion), simple and elegant. Lush green bamboos grow in front of the pavilion, while the river flows gently beneath it. On moonlit nights, when a breeze rustles through the leaves and moonlight dances on the water, the scene becomes one of the Eight Scenic Views around Cangxi County—“Linjiang Moonlit Night.” Ascending dozens of steps up to the right of the Ripple & Bamboo Shade Pavilion leads through the “Bie You Dong Tian” (A World Apart) stone archway and further up to the “Da Guan Ting” (Grand View Pavilion). The plaque above reads “Jiangshan Yilan” (A Panoramic View of Mountains and Rivers). The pavilion has two levels. From the top, visitors can take in distant mountains, nearby waters, city walls, fields, and houses. Descending the pavilion and turning east leads to the main central structure of the temple—the Lingguan Hall. Exiting the garden gate and walking east along the stone corridor connects to the West Meditation Room and the Three Officials Hall.

The Three Officials Hall houses statues of deities, and within the crevices of the hall’s stone walls, a small stream trickles year-round without drying up. Passing the Three Officials Hall to the east leads directly to the central “Ciyun Pavilion,” which houses a seated statue of Guanyin. The pavilion is connected to the East Meditation Room, a place where visitors can enjoy tea. Further east lie living quarters and a kitchen area. Linjiang Temple is a renowned scenic spot in Cangxi. Among its structures, the Guest-Seeing Pavilion has long been ruined due to age, and the Grand View Pavilion was destroyed by a landslide. In 1984, Zhao Puchu, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, composed a couplet for Linjiang Temple: “Leaning on a cane in the wind, the Poet Saint once saw guests off from this railing; Wielding weapons against the Japanese, the Red Army crossed here on their Long March.” In April 1984, the Cangxi County People’s Government designated it as a county-level cultural relic protection unit.

Protected Area: Using the outer edge of the Guanyin Hall as the baseline, extending 49 meters east, 90 meters west, 7 meters south, and 20 meters north.

Construction Control Zone: An additional 50 meters beyond the protected area.

Address: 1 kilometer west of Cangxi County on the west bank of the Jialing River