Qinquan Temple

Qinquan Temple

Qinquan Temple is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Sichuan Province.

Qinquan Temple is located on the mountainside of Changping Mountain, left side of Beiquan Road in Tongchuan Town, Santai County. It was first built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty (557–581 AD), originally named Anchang Temple. After the Sui Dynasty, it was renamed Huiyi Temple in the early Tang Dynasty, then Husheng Temple in the Southern Song Dynasty. By the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, it was called Qinquan Temple.

Since the early Tang Dynasty, Qinquan Temple has been constructed with halls and pavilions laid out according to astrological principles. Its layout is rigorous, magnificent, refined, solemn, and elegant. The existing buildings were constructed during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China period. The main structures consist of two parallel Siheyuan (traditional Chinese courtyard) complexes aligned from northwest to southeast, forming a unique layout that occupies the principal historical position among mountain temples. The left Siheyuan includes a front hall, the main hall, and side halls on the left and right; the right Siheyuan contains side halls and wing rooms. The entire building complex covers a construction area of 1,602 square meters and occupies a site area of about 6,000 square meters. The main hall, also known as the Guanyin Hall, is 14 meters wide (three bays) and 12.1 meters deep (six bays), with a construction area of 168.4 square meters. The front hall, which includes the mountain gate, was rebuilt in the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1873 AD). It is 18.9 meters wide (five bays) and 5.8 meters deep (three bays), with a construction area of 109.62 square meters. Behind the main hall is the Ganlu Cave, which houses the “Qinquan” mountain spring pool. The spring water flows year-round; the main spring is abundant, cool, and sweet in summer, and a gentle, warm flow in winter. It has been tested by the province and classified as high-quality mineral water. The mountain cliffs below the temple feature many cliff carvings, with 10 niches containing more than 700 statues known to date. To the right of the Thousand Buddha Cliff is the “- Cave,” consisting of two chambers. Originally a cliff tomb from the Eastern Han Dynasty, it served as the hermitage and writing place of the Tang Dynasty recluse Yue Rui. Inside the temple, there is an iron-cast statue of Guanyin seated in the Tang style, standing 1 meter tall, wearing a floral crown and adorned with jeweled necklaces. The statue features a gently drooping chin, forms a auspicious mudra, and sits cross-legged on a lotus pedestal. There is also a stone-carved stele inscribed with the lyrics of the poem “Moyuer,” in intaglio and regular script. The temple preserves relics such as the Shuangsun Stone from the 22nd year of the Shaoxing reign of the Song Dynasty (1152 AD), the Song Dynasty carved text “Yanshi Ganlu Zishu,” the Yuan Dynasty “Zhao Fugong Tomb Stele,” and a large bronze bell from the 4th year of the Tian Shun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460 AD). Towering ancient trees surround the temple, and two ginkgo trees on either side of the stone path in front of the mountain gate have trunks nearly 3 meters in circumference, resembling giant parasols from afar. From the temple, one can overlook the surrounding hills, with the North Pagoda and East Pagoda facing each other. Looking down at the city, the Fujiang and Kaijiang rivers converge and encircle the area. Nestled against the mountain and beside the water, Qinquan Temple boasts uniquely beautiful scenery. It was designated as a cultural heritage site by the Santai County People’s Government in May 1981, by the Mianyang Municipal People’s Government in June 1986, and by the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government in 1991.

Protected Area: The eastern boundary is defined by the western edge of the existing uphill road; the other three sides are bounded by the existing perimeter wall. Additionally, a 10-meter margin is designated around the “Qintai Shengjing” (Scenic Qintai Platform).

Construction Control Zone: The eastern boundary extends to the western edge of the canal at the mountain foot; the western boundary extends 20 meters west of the protected area; the southern boundary extends 20 meters south of the protected area, following the northern side of the “Qinquan Shengjing” inscription to the canal at the mountain foot; the northern boundary extends 20 meters north of the protected area, following the northern edge to the canal at the mountain foot.