Kaihe Temple

Kaihe Temple

Kaihe Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Kaihe Temple is located in the heart of Kuaitou Mountain, west of Luanliu Village in Pingding County, where rugged peaks rise sharply and pine and cypress trees tower overhead. The temple was built in the third year of the Yongping era during the Northern Wei Dynasty (510). It houses three niches—upper, middle, and lower—featuring over a hundred Buddhist statues of varying sizes, with the largest standing 4.4 meters tall and the smallest merely 0.12 meters high. The carving style and expressions of the statues closely resemble those found in the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, earning the site the nickname "Little Yungang of Shanxi." Yao Ling Temple is situated in Yao Ling Mountain. Originally named Qingliang Temple, it was first built in the ninth year of the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1434), located 20 kilometers south of Pingding County. The area boasts picturesque scenery—with lush greenery covering the mountains in spring, refreshing coolness in summer, and vibrant autumn foliage that turns a striking red. Due to its cool summer climate, it became a popular summer retreat. In the past, countries such as Norway, Lebanon, and the United States have built villas here.

During the Anti-Japanese War, the Taihang Qin and Lai detachments were stationed here to fight the enemy, and the Eighth Route Army also operated a pharmaceutical factory in the area. Yao Ling Temple is nestled within the mountain. The temple complex consists of large structures such as stone caves and east-west buildings. The stone caves house a total of 38 carved statues, while the east and west main halls are home to statues of Guan Yu, Yue Fei, Jialan, and the Medicine Buddha. In addition to standing Buddha figures, there are countless smaller carvings depicting various figures. Other religious artifacts include stone carvings and inscribed stelae. A seven-character regulated verse titled "Yao Ling Temple" by the Ming Dynasty poet Zhang Sanmo reads: "The ancient Qingliang Temple lies beyond the city’s edge, A lonely village shrouded in mist, with no neighbors in pledge. At the mountaintop’s sunlit cliff, a tiger’s den is concealed, While ancient trees reaching the sky bear dragon scales revealed. In deep clouds, herb-gathering fairies may lose their way, On quiet nights, suspended gourds reveal an elder’s stay. The scholar’s hut and monks’ abode both bring delight, Perhaps one seat here can shut out the world’s noisy sight."