Sanhe Qinglong Temple

Sanhe Qinglong Temple

Sanhe Qinglong Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Sanhe Qinglong Temple

Located on the banks of the Wu River in Sanhe Town, Zunyi County, Qinglong Temple is surrounded by verdant mountains. With its solemn temple and majestic presence, it is considered a noted Buddhist destination in northern Guizhou.

The temple has a long history. It is said to have been built during the Song Dynasty when a giant stone fell from the sky and landed in a field belonging to a family surnamed Li. The villagers then constructed a shrine. Originally called “Flying Deity Temple,” it was later renamed “Most Miraculous Temple” due to its spiritual efficacy. However, during the ten-year turmoil of the Cultural Revolution, the temple suffered severe damage. Structures such as the Mahavira Hall and the Guanyin Hall, which were built on the site of the fallen stone, were demolished, leaving only their foundations.

In 1981, the eminent monk Master Shi Mingliang traveled here and, seeing the simple and honest local customs that resembled those of a Taoist hermitage, decided to stay temporarily in the surviving remnants of the damaged temple. He dedicated himself to Buddhism and practiced both meditation and farming, adhering to the principle of “upholding precepts, cultivating truth, and delivering all beings.” Through diligent and heartfelt management, the temple gradually flourished, with incense offerings increasing daily and devotees multiplying. In 1987, he expanded the temple, but during the excavation, a massive stone over three meters in size was unearthed. Beneath the stone were two green snakes weighing around 25 kilograms. Upon seeing them, the master immediately shouted “Return to your place!” and they did not move. After chanting sutras and praying for three days, he moved the stone again, and the snakes had vanished. As a result, the temple’s name was changed from “Most Miraculous Temple” to “Qinglong Temple” (Green Dragon Temple).

The abbot of Qinglong Temple is Master Shi Mingliang. He became a Buddhist at the age of 27. Endowed with an innate simplicity, he devoted himself deeply to practice and cultivated profound Buddhist connections, ultimately achieving great attainment. Upholding the Buddhist mission of delivering all beings and helping devotees dispel disasters and hardships, the master cared about people’s livelihoods and widely bestowed kindness, especially aiding the poor and vulnerable. He has used tens of thousands of yuan saved from the temple’s donations to help struggling families and out-of-school children. Known for his immediate compassion, he once encountered a little girl crying on the street due to hardship and gave her all the several thousand yuan he had on hand to relieve her situation. The master’s dedication to “upholding precepts, cultivating truth, and delivering all beings,” along with his devout faith and generous charity, has led many to say that the monks of Qinglong Temple are virtuous and principled. As a result, the temple has gained widespread fame and attracts worshippers from overseas, as well as increasing numbers of pilgrims from across China.

Since taking charge of Qinglong Temple, Master Shi Mingliang has taken in four monks, hosted fifteen resident lay practitioners, and employed four security personnel. Year after year, through his personal leadership, he guided the temple community in farming, temple construction, and fundraising. Nearly ten million yuan has been raised to restore and construct the Mahavira Hall, Guanyin Hall, Four Heavenly Kings Hall, God of Wealth Hall, Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, Ancient Buddha Hall, Guide Hall, as well as the mountain gate and pavilions. Facilities such as side rooms, dining halls, residence halls for lay practitioners and monks are all fully equipped. The temple’s self-made sandalwood incense is also widely known for its quality.

The abbot of Qinglong Temple, Master Shi Mingliang, secular name Zhou Dexue, was born in Zunyi County in 1949 and became a monk in 1981. He serves as a member of the Zunyi County Political Consultative Conference and as vice president of the Zunyi County Buddhist Association.

He has received multiple commendations from provincial, municipal, and county authorities. He insists on conducting morning and evening chanting, preaching, teaching, and meals, strictly observing monastic discipline. Dressed neatly in monk robes, he advocates for the “combination of farming and meditation” approach to temple development and leads by example, becoming a role model in the Zunyi County Buddhist community.

Master Shi Mingliang’s merits are boundless. He has been elected as a member of the Zunyi County Political Consultative Conference and has been commended multiple times at the provincial, municipal, and county levels. The monks in the temple are also widely praised.

The master says: When people share a connection, it is the bond of Buddha— all beings are one. The master embodies a serene and tranquil Buddhist spirit; despite having vision in only one eye, he sees with the insight of the Dharma. His deeds benefit the present and future generations; spreading the Dharma, which is boundless, has made Qinglong Temple a sacred place of refuge.

Through millennia of accumulated and transmitted Buddhist culture, Qinglong Temple has grown increasingly revered and is now a widely renowned and esteemed temple.

——— Open and welcoming, Qinglong Temple awaits you!!

Sanhe Town: Located in the southern part of Zunyi County, it covers an area of 228 square kilometers with a population of 59,400, including Han, Miao, and other ethnic groups. It administers 3 neighborhood committees and 27 village committees. In 1953, Sanhe and Daobao towns, as well as townships like Xinzh station and Jiuping, were established. In 1958, the towns and townships were abolished and merged into the Sanhe Commune. In 1962, the Sanhe, Jiuping, Xindian, Jinji, and Daobao communes were split off. In 1984, it was reorganized into 1 town and 4 townships. In 1992, these were merged into Sanhe Town. It lies on the key route of the Guizhou-Sichuan Highway. There are 37 primary and secondary schools. The town government is located in Sanhe, 15 kilometers southwest of Nanbai Town, in the southeast valley of Yinjiayan. Population 3… For more detailed information about Sanhe Town++