Lughe Guantian Temple

Lughe Guantian Temple

Guantian Temple is situated in the eastern part of Lughe County, on the main peak of Guantianzhang, which rises to an elevation of about 860 meters. Known as being “three feet from the sky and ten thousand zhang from the water,” the mountain is grand and spectacular, with numerous peaks rising continuously over dozens of miles.

The mountain is surrounded by drifting mist and clouds, with elusive rosy hues and ever-changing scenery, making visitors feel as if they’ve entered a heavenly realm. Attractions on the mountain include Wanghai Peak, Little Matou, Big Matou, Zhai Gongshi (Monk Stone), Zhai Guoshi (Fruit Stone), Toad Stone, the “Three Surnames Land,” as well as ancient temples and shrines—all shrouded in fascinating legends.

Blessed by nature as a spiritually endowed and extraordinary land, ancient people chose this site to build four temples. The first is Shichuan Temple, said to be a thousand years old, where Ye Gaobiao—a minor official in the Ministry of Rites and Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices during the Ming Dynasty—once studied in his youth. According to the *Lufeng County Annals*, “the temple houses more than ten towering pines, all planted by Ye himself.” The second is E’gong An. The third is Qingxia Cave, the largest among them, a temple that blends Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Established during the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang era, it has drawn worshippers from far and wide who revere its spiritual power, ensuring continuous incense offerings. The fourth is Guantian Temple, built halfway up the mountain, nestled against the hills. With its beautiful surroundings, impressive temple architecture, and esteemed monks in residence, it serves as an ideal destination for travel, leisure, meditation, and spiritual cleansing.

Guantian Temple boasts a proud revolutionary heritage. During the temple’s reconstruction, a Red Army tomb was discovered. As the site of China’s first Soviet government in Haifeng-Lufeng, Guantian Temple is also a temple of red revolution.

Today’s Guantian Temple is located atop Guantianzhang Mountain in Shuichun Town, Lughe County. Built in the architectural style of the Tang and Song dynasties, it consists of eight traditional temple structures, including the main hall, side halls, and bell and drum towers. The presiding monk is Shi Dejian, the 18th-generation inheritor of the Yonghua Hall of the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province. Guantianzhang lies in the central part of the Lotus Mountain Range in eastern Guangdong, standing 860 meters above sea level. The mountain is imposing and majestic, with peaks rising one after another. When viewed from Shuichun Market, it resembles a giant Buddha sitting and gazing at the sky—hence the name Guantianzhang (Observing-the-Sky Ridge). The original temple on the mountain was Qingxia Cave, which includes scenic spots such as Wanghai Peak, Zhai Gongshi (Monk Stone), the Flying Stone Boat, and the Galloping Horse (Dragon) Head toward the Sea. It is a sacred and mystical mountain. Qingxia Cave was established during the Qing Dynasty’s Daoguang era, originally covering a construction area of 150 square meters and a total area of 2,000 square meters, and it has long been a place of bustling incense worship. Before the founding of New China, the monks of Qingxia Cave were killed by Kuomintang spies who then disguised themselves as monks to engage in counter-revolutionary activities. They were later eliminated by the People's Government. Due to the killing of the original monks, the revolutionary history of Qingxia Cave was not passed down after the liberation.

Before the establishment of New China, Guantianzhang was under the jurisdiction of Lufeng County, including areas now part of present-day Puning City such as Huangsha and Daping. Guantianzhang served as the connecting mountainous region between the Danan Mountain Revolutionary Base and the Jishi Creek Revolutionary Base, forming a crucial link between the two major red Soviet revolutionary bases.