Yaolin Temple Forest Park

Yaolin Temple Forest Park

Yaolin Temple Forest Park is a cultural tourism attraction.

Shanxi Province's Yaolin Temple Forest Park is located 20 kilometers south of Pingding County, bordered by Yangshe County and National Highway 207 to the east, and adjacent to the Shitai Railway and Taijiu Expressway to the north, offering convenient transportation. The park covers an area of over 4,000 acres and is a well-ordered mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest within Pingding County. The primary tree species are Chinese pine and oak, while the shrub layer includes smoke trees and thorny roses. The park is home to dozens of species of birds and animals, creating a wildlife paradise where trees, shrubs, grasses, and fauna coexist in an environment free from external pollution.

On the mountainside of Yaoling Mountain lies a massive rock known as the Cool Stone, within which a cave has been carved. The cave houses dozens of sculpted figures including a large Buddha, Bodhisattvas, the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, and the Eighteen Arhats. The cave ceiling is adorned with carvings of flying dragons and floral-bird patterns. Below the dragon is an octagonal well containing divine water, with the dragon’s reflection in the water appearing as if it is playing in the water. On top of the Cool Stone stands the Great Buddha Hall, which contains over 700 Buddha statues of various sizes. To the east and west are the historic Gyalan Hall and Guan Yu Hall. In addition, the park features several other attractions such as the Puffy Pine, Jingou Spring, Jiangtai Ridge, One-Line Sky, and Moon-Waiting Rock, all of which are deeply captivating. Yaoling Temple. The ancient structure within the park, Qingliang Temple, also known as Yaolin Temple, has a long history of establishment and was renovated in the 13th year of the Ming Jiajing era (1534). The temple, with its red walls and golden tiles, stands majestically amidst the lofty mountains and is surrounded by rugged rocks. A large stone in front of the temple bears the striking inscription “Yaolin Temple,” with surrounding pine forests dense and lush, lending the ancient temple a serene and tranquil atmosphere. By ascending the stone steps, passing by the Moon-Waiting Stone and Moon Tower, visitors can reach the temple. Directly north of the temple’s Bodhisattva Pavilion lies the renowned Qingliang Grotto, celebrated for its exceptional carving artistry. Above the grotto are three halls—the main hall being the Great Buddha Hall, also called the Main Hall—with side halls on the east and west. Additionally, in the western courtyard’s northern section stands a Zisun (Descendants) Hall. Each hall houses exquisitely crafted Buddha statues with diverse forms and graceful designs.

Furthermore, to the right and rear of the halls, there are two relatively large courtyards of modern construction, which are largely well-preserved. These were originally the site of the Lihua Pharmaceutical Factory of the Taihang Second Sub-district during the Anti-Japanese War. The temple was also a place where the commander of the Taihang Military District fought during the war. To this day, the temple preserves sites used for patriotic education and revolutionary tradition education from the Anti-Japanese War period.