Jixiang Temple

Jixiang Temple

Jixiang Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Jixiang Temple is located in Wudu Town, about 10 kilometers from downtown Mianzhu, nestled at the foot of the scenic Baiyun Mountain and facing the legendary General Platform of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Xiu. It is said that Jixiang Temple was the second Buddhist temple built in China, established by Emperor Ming of Han, Liu Zhuang, in honor of his father, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu. The temple houses the ceremonial tomb of Ma Wu, the Grand General of Captives from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The halls are built along the mountainside — the Heavenly King Hall, Ksitigarbha Hall, Guanyin Hall, Goddess of Mercy Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Scripture Depository — all standing majestically with an extraordinary aura. As the verse goes, “The vast valleys and windswept moon stir the heart, gazing afar at the grandeur of Mount Taihua.”

The temple enjoys a constant flow of incense and visitors. The Scripture Depository preserves 12 palm-leaf scriptures dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The Mahavira Hall stands out in the southwest region for its height, length, and floor area. Most notably, the thousand-year-old statue of Guanyin in the Guanyin Hall, carved from camphor wood, has a history of 1,800 years and still emanates a lingering fragrance.