Haihui Nunnery on Mount Wutai

Haihui Nunnery on Mount Wutai

Haihui Nunnery on Mount Wutai is a cultural heritage site protected by Wutai County.

Haihui Nunnery on Mount Wutai is located approximately 1,500 meters northwest of Jinguanku Village, Jinguanku Township, Wutai County. It faces south and measures 64.61 meters from east to west and 60.45 meters from north to south, covering an area of 3,905.67 square meters. Its founding date is unknown.

It was rebuilt in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1904) and renovated in the early years of the Republic of China. The existing buildings date back to the Qing Dynasty. The complex follows a two-courtyard layout, with the central axis featuring, in sequence, the Mountain Gate (also serving as the Hall of Heavenly Kings), the Guanyin Hall, and the Mahavira Hall. On both sides are the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, side halls, and auxiliary halls. Except for the chanting hall and the warehouse in the southwest corner, all other structures are remnants from the Qing Dynasty. The Mahavira Hall sits on a stone platform that is 19.35 meters wide, 10.4 meters deep, and 1.1 meters high. The hall has five bays in width and six rafters in depth, featuring a single-eave gable and hip roof. The roof frame consists of seven purlins with front and rear corridors. The brackets between the eaves columns are carved with bas-reliefs depicting two dragons playing with a pearl and a pair of phoenixes facing the sun. The central and side bays are fitted with four-panel lattice doors adorned with snowflake, plum blossom, and interlocking patterns. At the center of the hall’s ceiling is an eight-ribbed caisson ceiling, while the side walls are covered with meticulously painted Buddhist jataka tales in vibrant colors, covering a total area of 42 square meters. The main Buddhist dais enshrines the Three Ages of Buddhas and two attendants, and the side walls feature white marble statues of the Eighteen Arhats. The temple also houses two Qing Dynasty stone lions. In July 1988, the People’s Government of Wutai County designated it as a county-level cultural heritage site. (Source: "A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou")

Source: Xinzhou Website

Jinguanku Village: Overview of Jinguanku Village

Jinguanku Village is one of the towns and townships within the Wutai Mountain Scenic Area. It is located beside the Changyuan Highway, with a current agricultural population of 720 people across 320 households, including 57 Party members. The village has over 650 acres of arable land, and the per capita income is 2,160 yuan. The main sources of income are traditional agriculture and migrant work. With the development of the Wutai Mountain Tourism Service Base in the township, tourism services are set to become the dominant industry in Jinguanku Village.

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