Water Moon Palace (Water Moon Chan Temple)

Water Moon Palace (Water Moon Chan Temple)

Water Moon Palace (Water Moon Chan Temple) is a cultural relic protection unit of Lufeng City.

Water Moon Temple: Originally named Guanyin Hall, it is located atop Guanyin Ridge in Jinxia Town, Lufeng City. First built in the eighth year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1580), it was originally a small temple. In the 21st year of the Daoguang era during the Qing Dynasty (1841), it was expanded and renamed “Guanyin Chan Hall.” In the 11th year of the Xianfeng era (1861), a mountain gate was constructed, and it was renamed “Water Moon Palace.” The architectural layout of Water Moon Temple consists of a mountain gate, front hall, main hall, and left and right meditation rooms, covering an area of over 300 square meters.

Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Water Moon Temple was one of the branch temples of Jieshi Yuanshan Temple and was managed by monks dispatched from Yuanshan Temple. Today, three tomb stupas of Water Moon Temple monks from the late Qing Dynasty are still preserved nearby.

In the early years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Water Moon Temple was repurposed for other uses, monks left, and religious activities ceased.

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, with the implementation of religious policies, it was designated as a cultural relic protection unit of Lufeng County on November 8, 1983. In 1986, with the support of Buddhist devotees from home and abroad, fundraising efforts led to its restoration. In 1995, additional buildings were constructed to the left of Water Moon Temple, including the Mahavira Hall, Heavenly King Hall, two-story Kṣitigarbha Hall, two-story Guanyin Hall, monks’ quarters, dining hall, and a two-story reception building. The current land area is 18,650 square meters, including a built-up area of 2,890 square meters. The main structure, the Mahavira Hall, features a five-bay width, double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, and is grand and magnificent. The newly cast Three Saints statues are solemn and dignified, all made of high-quality copper, possessing certain artistic value in Buddhist sculpture.

In 2003, the government religious affairs department approved Water Moon Temple as a registered place of religious activity. The entire temple clergy adheres to patriotism and love for Buddhism, complies with laws and regulations, and regularly conducts religious activities. A temple management committee has been established, with various rules and regulations formulated to implement democratic management. The current head is Weng Xin, with three resident monks and over 150 Buddhist devotees.

Water Moon Palace has a floor plan consisting of three bays in width, two courtyards in depth, plus left and right wing rooms, with a total width of 26 meters and a total depth of 17.5 meters, covering a construction area of 455 square meters. It includes a mountain gate, worship pavilion, main hall, and meditation rooms—all with flush gable roofs—and features a post-and-lintel beam structure. The main ridge of the mountain gate is inlaid with porcelain depictions of two dragons playing with a pearl and theatrical figures, while the beam components are carved with decorations such as flowers, grass, and lions. The mountain gate’s eaves pillars feature three pairs of stone-carved couplets.

A natural seaside tourist destination—Guanyin Ridge is located on the undulating hills between Jinxia Town and Jieshi Town along the coast of Jieshi Bay in the southern part of Lufeng City, Guangdong Province. With a vast bay in front and winding mountain ridges behind, the area enjoys a cool climate and pleasant scenery. On the Qianwa platform of Guanyin Ridge stands Water Moon Palace, which worships the Goddess Guanyin. It was historically known as Guanyin Chan Hall or Water Moon Chan Temple. During the Song Dynasty, it was a small Five Blessings temple housing a single stone-carved Buddha statue. In the 21st year of the Daoguang era, Xinyue (1840), it was expanded into a traditional temple with a flush gable roof and hip-and-gable style. In the 11th year of the Xianfeng era, February (1861), it underwent renovation.

In 1983, Water Moon Palace was approved by higher authorities as a key cultural relic protection unit of Lufeng County. With strong support from compatriots in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and people across the country, Water Moon Chan Temple was rebuilt in May 1990. Water Moon Chan Temple is situated on the eastern side of Guanyin Ridge, covering an area of 20,000 square meters. To its left lies the Azure Dragon Rock overlooking the waves, and to its right the White Tiger Lotus Mountain covered in lush trees. In the center, a mountain spring flows, making it a propitious site symbolizing harmony between dragon and phoenix, and a flourishing blend of culture and martial virtue. From a high vantage point looking south, one faces the South China Sea and Jieshi Bay, to the east reaches Xuanshi Mountain’s Yuanshan Temple, and to the west the Huwei Mountain of Jinxia. Clouds and waters converge from all directions, and spiritual energy gathers from every corner. The site also includes the Mahavira Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Kṣitigarbha Pavilion, Guanyin Pavilion, bell and drum towers, scripture depository, and vegetarian restaurant, creating a scenic linear park that integrates halls, pavilions, and mountain forests.

At the foot of Guanyin Ridge lie endless stretches of fine, soft sandy beaches, crystal-clear seawater bathing areas, and famous sites such as Zhenhai Rock, Dragon Rock, Dragon Fang Rock, and Double-Layered Rock. Rising from the sea are Monk Rock, Black Reef, and Penguin Rock, with bizarre rocks in a myriad of shapes. On the beach stands a cone-shaped boulder engraved with numerous inscriptions, among which the three large characters “Zhenhai Shi” (Guarding the Sea Rock) were erected in the tenth year of the Wanli era during the Ming Dynasty (1582) by Imperial Envoy Zheng Yue and Garrison Commander Cheng Lilu. “Yangwei Shui Zhi” (Displaying Might, Waters Halt) was inscribed in the 20th year of the Wanli era (Gengzi Year, 1600) by Hu Guoqing of Sanshan. “Yongzhen Anlan” (Eternally Guarding Peaceful Waves), “Guantao” (Wave Watching), and “Zhenqu” (True Delight) are stone inscriptions from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty by Stone Barrier Envoy Deng Wanlin. On a towering ten-meter-high sea cliff, there is a cliff engraving reading “Longshi” (Dragon Rock) in a unique style. The renowned printmaker and calligrapher Lai Shaoqi, to commemorate Chinese leader Zhou Enlai’s daring crossing of Hong Kong during the revolutionary period, composed a poem and inscribed it on Dragon Rock: “Islets at night like a cauldron, distant sky a lone pillar, dashing across Jieshi Bay, fierce as a tiger descending the mountain.” This is the natural seascape of a coastal cape, a golden tourist coastline.

Since its opening, Water Moon Chan Temple has received enthusiastic support from overseas Chinese, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, as well as the general public within China. Through devout donations, the restoration of cultural relics and historic sites has steadily improved, and supporting facilities and planning have advanced rapidly. Visitors come in an endless stream.

Shiergang Village: The Shiergang Village Committee is located east of the Jinxia Town government, beside the Jinyin Highway, covering an area of approximately 5.2 square kilometers. It governs three natural villages with a total population of 3,106. The Shiergang Village Committee is 23 kilometers from the city center and 8 kilometers from the town government seat, connected only by one through road, offering relatively good geographical advantages. Situated in a hilly and ridge area, it is a purely agricultural village with relatively weak collective economic development. … Shiergang Village detailed information++