Xianghui Temple

Xianghui Temple

Xianghui Temple is located in Xiangshi Park, Liaobu Town, Dongguan City, backed by the scenic Shenxian Ridge. This ridge earned its name for being spiritually charged. In the past, there was a Wenchang Temple here, where scholars would worship with Dongguan agarwood on exam days to receive divine blessings. There are also legends of an immortal leaving footprints after smelling the fragrance, and a dragon leaving a dragon-shaped mark on the ridge after being drawn by the scent.

Xianghui Temple is backed by the scenic Shenxian Ridge. Legend has it that the ridge got its name due to its spiritual energy. At the foot of Shenxian Ridge, there used to be a Wenchang Temple. On exam days, scholars would worship with Dongguan agarwood to receive divine blessings. There are also legends of an immortal leaving footprints after smelling the fragrance, and a dragon leaving a dragon-shaped mark on the ridge after being drawn by the scent. (Legend of Shenxian Ridge: It is said that one year, the agarwood trees in several villages around Liaobu—including Niuyang, Shangdi, Liuwukeng, Fuzhushan, Huanggongshan, and Huangpoling—bloomed all at once. That year’s bloom had four remarkable features: large flowers, snow-white color, intense fragrance, and long flowering period. Especially the old agarwood trees in Niuyang, Shangdi, Huanggongshan, and Huangpoling, whose floral fragrance could be detected from miles away. The fragrance not only attracted numerous butterflies and birds but also drew a group of immortals passing through the area. The immortals, who had already caught the rich scent near Shuili Mountain in Dalingshan Town, initially thought the captivating aroma came from Shuili Mountain. They peered down from the clouds but couldn’t find the source. Then they floated to the skies above Fuzhushan Village, where the fragrance was even stronger. The immortals were amazed and concluded that such a fragrance was truly extraordinary. Determined to uncover the mystery, one eager immortal stepped firmly onto a large rock behind Fuzhushan Village, leaving a clear footprint. At that moment, the immortal not only smelled the delicate floral aroma but also saw a vast sea of snow-white blossoms. Later, villagers named this small hill “Shenxian Ridge.” After leaving the large footprint on the hill, the group of fragrance-seeking immortals vanished into Luofu Mountain. But why was there only one immortal footprint and not two? To solve this mystery, ancient folk went to the site of the footprint to investigate in detail. Their conclusion was: “Immortals do not walk on the earth when descending to the mortal realm, as they ride on auspicious clouds. One foot stands on the cloud while the other steps on a stone. Therefore, wherever an immortal leaves a footprint, it is always just one.”)

This agarwood is Dongguan agarwood. Since the Tang Dynasty, Dongguan has been famous for producing Dongguan agarwood, especially thriving in the “agarwood market” of Liaobu. Dongguan agarwood is the only tree named after a place in Dongguan. It was a treasured tribute to the imperial court in ancient times and considered the “foremost among all fragrances” due to its refined scent. In Buddhism and Taoism, it is believed to connect the three realms. This spiritually connecting agarwood reaches the heavenly deities above, the earthly essences below, and encompasses human daily life in the middle, making it the favorite incense of Buddhas and bodhisattvas. It is said that later, a small Earth God temple was built on Shenxian Ridge, where the barefoot immortal left his footprint. The ancestors of Liaobu worshipped there with Dongguan agarwood, and since then, the land has been fertile, commerce has flourished, and trade has prospered.

For thousands of years, incense and the development of Buddhism have been closely intertwined. A single stick of incense before the Buddha represents the highest form of reverence. Burning a good stick of incense allows one, through its fragrance, to calm the mind, quell greed, anger, and ignorance, and enter a state of peace and joy. For those who practice meditation, the aid of fine incense can help soothe the spirit, regulate qi, and harmonize the body, allowing one to gather one’s senses, focus the mind in meditation, gain wisdom, and attain ultimate liberation. From this, one can see the profound truth of incense.

Located at the foot of Shenxian Ridge, Xianghui Temple is currently the only temple in Dongguan that incorporates Dongguan agarwood—a cultural symbol of the region—and uses it in Buddhist worship. The temple burns only Dongguan agarwood. Visitors can go to the incense offering area to get three sticks of incense to offer at the incense burner outside the Mahavira Hall, paying homage to the Three Jewels. This is also a meritorious act that accumulates blessings and virtue.

Liaobu Town: Liaobu Town is located in the economically most developed Pearl River Delta region of mainland China. It lies in the central part of Dongguan City, serving as the geographical center of Dongguan. Adjacent to the urban area and neighboring the Songshan Lake High-Tech Industrial Park, it is the hub of the Guangzhou–Hong Kong economic corridor, enjoying exceptional locational advantages. The town has a well-developed road network. The Guanshen Expressway runs through the entire town, and two top-grade highways, “Guanzhang” and “Shida,” along with the newly built Songshan Lake Avenue, Dongguan Eastern Expressway, and the urban ring road, intersect here, forming a modern and efficient transportation network. Most parts of Dongguan can be reached within a half-hour drive... More details about Liaobu Town++