Stone Lions at Longquan Temple

Stone Lions at Longquan Temple

The stone lions at Longquan Temple are a cultural tourism attraction.

The stone lions at Longquan Temple are located in the mountains northwest of Jinshan Town, Harqin Banner. Built during the Yuan Dynasty, the existing temple structures date back to the Qing Dynasty.

In front of the main hall lies a single recumbent stone lion about 4.5 meters long, carved directly from the local bedrock. Its carving is vivid, lifelike, and demonstrates skilled craftsmanship. On the lion’s back stands a small boundary stele inscribed in the second year of the Yuán Zhìyuán era. In front of the lion is a stele engraved in the first year of the Zhìzhèng era (1341), reading “Virtuous Deeds Stele of Abbot Ciguang Pujì Rán of Longquan Temple at Shīzǐyá, Sōngzhōu.” The temple was built on the southern slope of the mountain peak, where clear spring water trickles year-round through crevices in the rocky hillside. The surrounding area is lush with trees and fragrant grass, which is why it is called Longquan (Dragon Spring).

Longquan Temple is situated on Longquan Mountain, approximately 1.5 kilometers northwest of Jinshan Town, Chifeng City. It was first built in the 24th year of the Yuán Shìzǔ Zhìyuán era (1287 AD). The temple complex backs onto the majestic Lion Cliff and is built along the mountain’s contour in a three-courtyard, three-level structure. The main hall is three bays wide, with a hip-and-gable roof and double eaves, surrounded by corridors and carved stone railings. In front of the hall lies a recumbent stone lion about 4.5 meters long, with a vivid and lifelike expression. It echoes another stone lion atop a nearby mountain peak. On either side of the lion are ancient cypress trees and stone steles. The eastern stele is the “Virtuous Deeds Stele of Abbot Ciguang Pujì Rán of Longquan Temple at Shīzǐyá, Sōngzhōu,” engraved in the first year of the Zhìzhèng era (1341) under Emperor Tàiyù of the Yuan Dynasty. The western stele is an inscription from the 16th year of the Republic of China (1927) commemorating temple renovations, with surviving inscriptions, a dragon-headed top (chīshǒu), and a turtle pedestal (guīfū). The temple's three courtyards and three levels are all aligned along a central axis, featuring a rigorous layout, clear hierarchy, symmetrical design, and magnificent grandeur. The stone carvings, wood carvings, and painted artworks within the temple demonstrate exceptional artistic skill.

To the northwest of Longquan Temple lies an ancient well named “Longquan” (Dragon Spring), from which the temple gets its name. Legend has it that after suppressing the rebellion of Galdan, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty visited Longquan Temple and drank from the waters of the Dragon Spring well.