Xiaoxitian Temple in Xixian County

Xiaoxitian Temple in Xixian County

Xiaoxitian Temple in Xixian County is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a key cultural relic protection unit in China.

In Journey to the West, the Yellow Brow Demon sets up a fake Little Thunder Monastery, with Buddha statues and temple furnishings identical to those of the real destination, Thunder Monastery, in an attempt to deceive Tang Sanzang and his disciples. Could it be that Xiaoxitian in Linfen borrowed the Yellow Brow Demon’s idea? Let’s explore this together. Originally named Qianfo An, the temple features sculptures of celestial beings and heavenly realms, with the gate inscribed “The Path Leads to the Western Heaven,” distinguishing it from the larger Great Western Heaven Temple located south of Xixian County — hence the name “Xiaoxitian” (Little Western Heaven). Moreover, the upper section of Xiaoxitian — the essence of the entire temple — houses the main hall, Daxiong Baodian (Mahavira Hall), where numerous Buddha statues are seated. The hall also contains the Ten Disciples, Eight Great Vajras, Four Heavenly Kings, Twelve Musicians, celestial beings with human faces, divine birds, and various other Buddhist figures and stories, presenting a scene reminiscent of a heavenly palace or the “Pure Land” of the Western Paradise. Judging from just these two aspects, the Yellow Brow Demon could sue Xiaoxitian in Linfen for plagiarizing his creative concept. Legend has it that in ancient times, a pair of extraordinarily beautiful phoenixes soared across the land. One day, as they flew over this area, they were captivated by the landscape below. They circled endlessly, reluctant to leave. One of them, so entranced by the view, crashed into the mountain and fell, transforming into a mountain peak shaped like a phoenix. Xiaoxitian stands atop this phoenix-shaped mountain.

Address: Phoenix Mountain, 1 km northwest of Xixian County, Linfen City

Type: Temple

Recommended visiting time: Approximately 2 hours

Phone: 0357-7322210

Opening hours:

07:30–18:30 (March to November); 08:00–18:30 (December to April)

Ticket information:

Door price: 40.0 RMB