Manhui Baolian Temple

Manhui Baolian Temple

Baolian Temple is located in Manhui Town, about 20 kilometers northeast of Hangjinhouqi. The temple complex covers an area of over 80 acres, with a built-up area exceeding 10,000 square meters. About ten kilometers north of the temple lies the majestic Yin Mountains stretching from east to west; thirty kilometers to the south flows the mighty and winding Yellow River; to the west lies the vast Ulan Buh Desert; to the east lies the expansive Wulate Grassland, making it a place of exceptional natural beauty and spiritual richness.

The temple was first built in 1938 under the original name "Jingguang Temple." It was established by two eminent monks, Venerable Shichangsheng and Venerable Shichangfa, who traveled from Yinchuan to Haicha'an Temple in Hequ, Shanxi. At that time, there was one main hall — the Mahavira Hall — and more than ten monk dormitories. The temple was bustling with visiting monks and thrived in incense offerings. In 1958, extensive local rice cultivation led to soil waterlogging, which caused the temple to collapse, halting all activities. After the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party, the local government implemented the Party’s religious policy and approved reconstruction in 1994. With the care and support of the municipal party committee, banner party committee, united front department, and religious affairs bureau, the reconstruction was initiated by Venerable Zangbao, Venerable Zangwen, and lay devotee Li Cunliang. They rebuilt the Mahavira Hall and the east and west meditation rooms, meeting the needs of the faithful and resuming various Buddhist activities.

In the spring of 1999, at the invitation of disciples, Venerable Lingyi from Zhenru Temple on Yunju Mountain in Jiangxi Province and Venerable Miaoji from Hongfa Temple in Shenzhen, Guangdong, came to preside over Buddhist practices at Baolian Temple. The temple now includes over 20 halls and structures such as the Heavenly King Hall, Avalokitesvara Hall, Mahavira Hall, Lengyan Pagoda, Ksitigarbha Hall, Patriarchs Hall, Sangharama Hall, Bell and Drum Towers, Longevity Hall, Five Contemplations Dining Hall, Gratitude Hall, Western Pure Land Hall, Meditation Hall, Guest Reception Hall, Earth God Temple, Mountain God Temple, and Dragon King Temple. There is also a Buddhist cultural plaza covering over 10,000 square meters, consisting of an archway, east and west cultural corridors, and an outdoor statue of Guanyin. The scale is grand and the atmosphere solemn and respectful.

The temple offers well-developed tourism and reception facilities, providing pilgrims and devotees who come from afar with accommodation, meals, and a safe, comfortable environment. The resident monks engage in daily group morning and evening chanting sessions, and the meditation hall maintains four periods of seated meditation per day. In the evenings, monks conduct personal study, and on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, they gather for monastic discipline recitation. With dedication, sincerity, and strict adherence to Buddhist precepts, the temple has cultivated a strong spiritual atmosphere and is widely recognized as a renowned Zen practice center in western China.

Baolian Temple faces south and is nestled against the mountain. Above the archway, the words “Holy Land of Hetao” blend with vibrant colors and the blue sky and white clouds. The outdoor statue of Guanyin stands at the center of the temple’s fountain. The east and west Buddhist cultural corridors, each extending approximately 210 meters, feature various murals and painted artworks, situated within the Buddhist cultural park plaza of Baolian Temple. The eaves, beams, and pillars of the pavilions are adorned with paintings depicting “The Life of Sakyamuni Buddha,” along with various murals and colorful artworks, creating a magnificent and majestic scene. These elements complement each other with rich calligraphy and painting, vivid colors, and lifelike representations, showcasing the profound heritage of Buddhist culture. The cultural corridor promoting “Inheriting the Excellent Buddhist Culture and Building a Harmonious and Beautiful Society” highlights the prosperity and harmony of the northern frontier.