Suining Pilu Temple

Suining Pilu Temple

Suining Pilu Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

Pilu Temple, located 5 kilometers west of Baima Town in Anju District, Suining, Sichuan, is a branch temple of Guangde Temple. It is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province. Along with Lingquan Temple, Guangde Temple, and Baique Temple, Pilu Temple is known as one of the Four Temples of Doucheng (an alternative name for Suining).

Suining Pilu Temple is located about 35 kilometers west of Suining City in Sichuan Province, situated at the foot of Huazang Mountain in Baima Town, Anju District, and 5 kilometers from Baima Town. Originally built during the Song Dynasty and expanded in the Ming Dynasty, the temple covers an area of 7,500 square meters with a construction area of 5,512 square meters. The temple once housed the widely renowned high monk Master Qingxin, with the dharma name Zhuchao and the nickname “Mad Monk” (believed to be the prototype of the legendary monk Ji Gong). The site enjoys flourishing incense offerings. Every year during the “Incense Festival” in March, Suining Pilu Temple attracts numerous worshippers from Suining, all over Sichuan, and even beyond, creating a lively atmosphere with a daily foot traffic of over 30,000 people. Beautiful legends such as the Mad Monk sweeping away "Qin," punishing and mocking corrupt officials, and standing up for justice have provided endless food for thought and fascination.

The Anju District of Suining, where Pilu Temple is located, lies in the central part of the Sichuan Basin and features a subtropical humid monsoon climate. Influenced by the climate, the terrain has been shaped by water erosion, cutting, and sedimentation, resulting in undulating hills across the city with red clay soil formed from the weathering of red sandstone. In front of Pilu Temple flows the Bai'an River, while behind it lies the Mazitan Reservoir—one of Suining’s major reservoirs with a capacity of 673,771 cubic meters and an irrigation area of 198,900 acres. The hill behind the temple is called Huazang Mountain, covered in thick shrubbery, while the front features ancient cypress and banyan trees, contributing to a pristine natural environment.

Since its establishment, the annual temple fair on the seventh day of the third lunar month has drawn worshippers from far and wide, including those from Anyue, Lezhi, Jianyang, Daying, and Zhongjiang. Buddhist activities are especially vibrant during this time. Legend has it that the “Mad Monk” of Pilu Temple possesses profound spiritual power. On the rocky cliffs behind the temple are cliff carvings and inscriptions from the Song Dynasty, including an inscription that reads: “In the fourth year of the Shaoxing era, the tenth month of the Jiayin year, in the township of Tangzheng, Xiaoxi County, Suining Prefecture, the couple Bai Jie...... Their granddaughter Dingniang and granddaughter Bipujun respectfully record.”

The temple grounds are serene and picturesque, featuring the Mahavira Hall, the Eighteen Arhats Hall, the Thousand-Hand Guanyin Hall, and others. About 1,000 meters ahead along the mountain path in front of the temple, there is said to be a “Fairy Cave.” On the seventh day of the third lunar month each year, worshippers and tourists from various regions flock to this “Fairy Cave” to collect holy water for blessings of peace and safety.

Protected area: South to 7 meters outside the dripping eaves of the mountain gate; North to 0.5 meters north of the dripping eaves of the Mahavira Hall and the Qinglie Ancient Buddha Hall; West to 25 meters west of the dripping eaves of the Lingguan Hall; East to 25 meters east of the dripping eaves of the Civil and Military Officials Hall.

Construction control zone: Extending 20 meters beyond the protected area.

Baima Town: The beautiful and fertile Baima Town is located 35 kilometers west of Suining City, approximately 30 kilometers from Anju District, and 30 kilometers from China’s Dead Sea.

Distinctive industries: The town boasts distinctive sectors such as modern livestock breeding, eco-agricultural sightseeing, and leisure tourism, along with specialty agricultural products like Golden Pear, Selenium-enriched Peanut, Big Five-Star Loquat, Walnut, and Peach. These include 2,000 acres of Golden Pears, 500 acres of Selenium-enriched Peanuts, 2,000 acres of Big Five-Star Loquats, 3,000 acres of Walnuts, and 2,500 acres of Peaches. The area also offers unique tourism resources such as Pilu Temple, Mazitan, and Pingning Primeval Forest.

Commercial network status: B… Detailed information about Baima Town++