Neijiang Donglin Temple

Neijiang Donglin Temple

Neijiang Donglin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Neijiang Donglin Temple is located on Heba Street in the eastern part of the city. The lofty pavilion stands by the river, overlooking the Tuojiang River, gazing up at the layered mountains, with misty clouds drifting above and willows along the bank accompanied by cicada songs. It gets its name from facing Xilin Temple on the opposite bank of the Tuojiang River. Together with Xilin Temple, it was once one of the celebrated “Evening Views of the Two Lin Temples” in old Neijiang.

Donglin Temple was first built in the first year of the Qianning era of the Tang Dynasty (894 AD) under the name Dongjin Temple, and was later renamed Donglin Temple. In the Northern Song Dynasty, Fan Zuyu wrote in his poem “Ziru Road Dongjin Temple”: “In remote lands, strange creatures gather; in ancient temples, deep halls remain.” He noted in a self-commentary: “The temple has a stone Buddha hall, built in the first year of the Qianning era of the Tang Dynasty (894 AD).” The temple sits against a rock cliff and faces the Tuojiang River. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, cliff carvings have been chiseled into the rock face through the ages, hence the name Thousand Buddha Cliff. Among them, the Song Dynasty Thousand-Handed Guanyin stone carving stands 7.4 meters high and 7.16 meters wide. Its design is dignified and the carving exquisite. In the 11th year of the Shaoxing era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1142 AD), a building was constructed next to the rock cliff in front of the Thousand-Handed Guanyin carving. The temple structure was majestic, with carved beams and painted rafters. During the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era, it underwent multiple renovations, featuring winding caves and corridors adorned in brilliant gold and colors. By the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty, the Thousand-Handed Guanyin remained one of the most intact Buddha statues, with the gold foil on its face still shining brilliantly.

Just so: Misty clouds drift and willows sing; a lofty pavilion stands by the city’s core. Timeless cliff carvings still remain; winding caves and golden halls glow once more.

Bus routes: Take bus 109 (Huangjuejing Market – Xiaojia Chong) or bus 113 (East Bus Station Roundabout – Panlong Chong), and get off at Donglin Temple stop.