Helan Mountain Guangzong Temple (South Temple)

Helan Mountain Guangzong Temple (South Temple)

Helan Mountain Guangzong Temple (South Temple) is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural tourism site.

The Tibetan name of Guangzong Temple is "Danjiling," commonly known as the South Temple. It is located in a valley on the western foothills of the Helan Mountains, within the territory of Barun Bieili in Alxa Left Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, approximately 23 kilometers southeast of Bayanhot Town. The temple has six branch temples and was the largest and most prestigious among the original Eight Great Temples of Alxa. It is composed of more than twenty architectural complexes. The entire structure is grand and magnificent, with resplendent beauty. Major buildings include the Mahavira Hall, the Scripture Hall, and the Yellow Tower Temple. The hall enshrining the stupa containing the remains of the Sixth Dalai Lama of Tibet is called the "Yellow Tower Temple." The Yellow Tower Temple is a two-story pavilion-style building, with 81 rooms in the front section and 49 in the rear, all constructed with yellow and green glazed tiles, making it extremely luxurious. It is said that, in addition to the remains of the Sixth Dalai Lama of Tibet, this hall also houses precious historical relics such as fossilized images of flying apsaras, a golden Buddha left behind by Shakyamuni, and the sword of Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty.

Guangzong Temple was first built in the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign during the Qing Dynasty (1757 AD) by Avandorje, the son of Banzir Taji, in accordance with the last wishes of his master—the Sixth Dalai Lama. The temple complex originally comprised 15 temples with over 2,000 rooms. Between the temples were storehouses (Gisa) and monks' quarters. The kitchen contained a bronze cauldron weighing over one ton, capable of holding more than four tons of water. After the temple was completed, the remains of the Sixth Dalai Lama were transferred from Chaogehuhuore Temple (Zhaohua Temple) and enshrined here, and he was revered as the temple’s first Living Buddha (Gegen), named Dedeng Gegen. In the 25th year of the Qianlong reign (1760 AD), the third king of Alxa, Lobsang Dorje, reported to the Qing court’s Lifan Yuan, and an imperial plaque inscribed with the temple’s name “Guangzong Temple” in four languages—Mongolian, Chinese, Manchu, and Tibetan (Tibetan name: Gandan Danjinglin)—was bestowed by the emperor, replacing the original name of Adaximaideli Temple. During the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty, the temple was expanded, and the remains of the sixth king of Alxa, Nangdubusulong, were enshrined within. In the eighth year of the Tongzhi reign (1869 AD), the temple was burned down during a military conflict but was restored during the Guangxu reign. Currently, there are over 70 temples and monks’ quarters, and temple fairs are held regularly.

Guangzong Temple is built against the mountain, with buildings of varying heights scattered across the landscape, surrounded by mountains on all sides, with evergreen pines and cypresses, and streams meandering like ribbons. The scenery is exceptionally beautiful, making it a famous tourist destination.

When the Sixteen Arhats were invited to Han China, they spent the summer retreat here, an event recorded in related scriptures. The activities of that time are documented in the Fifth Dalai Lama’s “Offerings and Homage to the Sixteen Arhats,” the Sixth Dalai Lama’s “Prayers to the Gods of Alxa,” and the monastic rules “Day of Flourishing of the Three Studies” written for Guangzong Temple (South Temple) by the Jamyang Lama Rolpai Dorje.

The second Living Buddha (Gegen) of the South Temple, Tubdan Jamkus, wrote in the preface to his “Incense Offering at Zhanmao Mountain”: “It is historically recorded in the Praise of the Arhats by the Fifth Great Jewel that when the magical monks invited the Sixteen Arhat Venerables to Han China, they performed the summer retreat in the Helan Mountains and that layman Dharma acted as the patron here. The Panchen Lama, the All-Knowing One, personally prophesied that the place where the Arhats performed the summer retreat is the current site of Gandan Danjinglin, and he also indicated that layman Dharma was born in the valley of this temple. According to elders, there are Arhat footprints on the top of Tebuke Mountain, which are indeed clearly visible to this day.” According to the “Biography of the Sixth Panchen Lama,” Tubdan Jamkus (also known as Undur Gegen) met the Panchen Lama Lobsang Palden Yeshe in 1769 and received teachings. The above-quoted words were likely spoken by the Panchen Lama during their conversation. This is one of the reasons why the South Temple is renowned as a sacred site in the Buddhist world.

In the 25th year of the Qianlong reign (1760 AD), the Qing court bestowed the name “Guangzong Temple” upon the temple and presented a golden plaque inscribed with the temple’s name in four languages—Tibetan, Manchu, Mongolian, and Chinese—written in the hand of Emperor Qianlong. The plaque is dated “16th day of the intercalary eighth month of the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing.” From then on, the South Temple had this official name. Before 1760, the South Temple was called “Panda Jiagamu Caulin.”

Bayanhot Town: Bayanhot, meaning “Prosperous City” in Mongolian, is often referred to as the “Little Beijing Beyond the Great Wall.” Originally named Dingyuan Camp, the town has a history of over 300 years since its establishment. It is the seat of government for the Alxa League, Alxa Left Banner, and Bayanhot Town, located in the southeastern part of Alxa Left Banner, on the western foothills of the Helan Mountains. It borders Zongbielei Town to the east, Barun Bieili Town and Jiargele Saihan Town to the south, Chaganbulage to the west, and Jilantai Town and Bayannuorigong Sumu to the north. The total area is 5,433.8 square kilometers, with the built-up urban area covering approximately 24 square kilometers. The population includes Mongolian, Han,... More detailed information about Bayanhot Town++