Huiquan Chan Temple

Huiquan Chan Temple

Huiquan Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huiquan Chan Temple

Huiquan Chan Temple, located at the eastern foot of Liangshan Mountain in Xisi Village, Huayuantun Township, Xinrong District, Datong City. It lies adjacent to the ancient “Eight Scenic Spots of Yunzhong,” particularly the Fangshan “Wei Mausoleum Misty Rain,” and has historically been a renowned Buddhist site on the outskirts of Datong. Huiquan Chan Temple was first built in the 11th year of the Hongzhi reign during the Ming Dynasty. Over history, it has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, and was ultimately ruined again during the Cultural Revolution.

From the groundbreaking on the 17th day of the fourth lunar month in 2002 to the completion and consecration on the 8th day of the third lunar month in 2007, the project took five years. Hundreds of Buddhist devotees and religious followers donated nearly three million yuan. The reconstruction was designed by Zhang Chengfu, an expert in ancient architecture from Datong City, and carried out in accordance with the Datong Cultural Relics Bureau’s directive to “restore the old as it was, returning it to its original appearance.” A large-scale reconstruction of Huiquan Chan Temple was undertaken.

The newly built Huiquan Temple, while restoring the original structures, added forty-one halls including the Guanyin Hall, Dizang Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, Manjushri Hall, Sangharama Hall, Bodhidharma Ancestral Hall, Scripture Depository (Bell and Drum Tower), Chanting Hall, Dragon King Temple, Ancient Opera Stage, Distribution Center, and Stele Corridor. Additionally, two courtyards—the Sangha Compound and Lay Buddhists’ Grove—were newly constructed. Among these, 511 square meters of original buildings were extensively renovated, 1,431 square meters of new buildings were erected, and over 2,000 square meters of plaza were paved. Twenty-four statues were recast, including four copper statues, three wooden carvings, and the rest clay sculptures. The painted murals covered an area of more than 250 square meters. The wooden structures of various halls, such as brackets, corridors, and floral-pendant gates, were adorned with colorful paintings using techniques such as Hexi color, Da Jin Dian, Shang Wu Cai, and Su-style color painting, featuring exquisitely painted beams and painted buildings. The total area of painted artwork reached over 600 square meters.

The reconstructed Huiquan Temple is majestic, layered, simple yet elegant, rich in antique charm, fully showcasing the grandeur of the ancient temple of the past.

Address: Xisi Village, Huayuantun Township, Xinrong District, Datong City, Shanxi Province