Tianhu Hall

　　Tianhu Hall is located in Nanhu Village, Qiling Township. Originally named Anzhai, it is surrounded by mountains and boasts serene scenery, with a large pond situated right in front of the village. Legend has it that an immortal once traveled to this area and happened to arrive during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The reflection of the hall in the moonlit pond, the mirror-like water, and the refreshing autumn breeze created such a breathtaking view that the immortal spontaneously exclaimed, “Truly a heavenly lake and immortal scene!” Since then, local residents have called Anzhai “Tianhu” (Heavenly Lake).

　　Tianhu Hall was first built in the 10th year of the Ningji reign during the Southern Song Dynasty (1217 AD) and has undergone multiple renovations throughout history. The main structure is a two-courtyard palace-style temple, facing east and covering an area of 960 square meters. It consists of an upper hall and a lower hall, with a spacious and bright courtyard in between. The lower hall houses a seated statue of the Maitreya Buddha. The left corridor is dedicated to the memorial plaques of three abbots—Chongyuan, Youyu, and Wenkai—while the right corridor features statues of the God of Fortune, the God of Martial Temples, and the literary and martial top scholars. The main hall is divided into the central hall, rear hall, left hall, and right hall. The central hall has four large round wooden pillars, two octagonal stone pillars, and two hollow-carved stone pillars featuring dragons extending their claws. The central hall enshrines statues of the Goddess of Mercy and the Three Buddhas. The left hall is dedicated to the worship of the Emperor of Medicine. The right hall houses statues of the Guangji Patriarch, his attendants, and the Immersed Water Buddha, among others.

　　A unique feature of Tianhu Hall is the coexistence of Buddhist and Taoist elements under one roof, reflecting the customs of the local people. Legend has it that in the 4th year of the Chongzhen reign during the Ming Dynasty (1631 AD), the renowned scholar Huang Daozhou visited this place, paid homage in the hall, and casually inscribed a large plaque reading “The Moon Comes, the Wind Blows,” which still hangs prominently in the hall today.

　　In front of Tianhu Hall lies a spacious square covering 924 square meters. There is also a large liberation pond spanning 450 square meters, with a pavilion on each side for visitors to rest. The mountain gate is located on the right side of the square, facing south, standing 8 meters tall and 14.5 meters wide, majestic and grand.