BaoLun Temple

　　   BaoLun Temple is situated opposite the overpass building in Ciqikou, backed by Baiyan Mountain and facing the Jialing River. Behind the temple was originally a rocky outcrop named "Baiyan," hence the town was also called "Baiyan Town." The temple complex spans a vast area, stretching from Baiyan to Ma'anshan and all the way to Tongjiaqiao. Temples are closely connected, with golden Buddha statues everywhere, creating a solemn and majestic atmosphere. The stone walls are carved with 500 lifelike Arhats. Within Ma'anshan lies a reclining Buddha, resting peacefully and comfortably. Someone, upon seeing this reclining figure, inscribed a poem on the wall: "You sleep so well, once asleep, all is done. If we all go to sleep, who will protect the nation?" BaoLun Temple consists of various halls including the Mahavira Hall, Chuanzhu Hall, Guanyin Pavilion, Heavenly King Hall, Medicine King Hall, meditation rooms, and the scripture depository. The pillars of the Mahavira Hall are made of horse mulberry wood, thick enough to be embraced by two people, with diameters about one foot. The entire architectural structure of the Mahavira Hall was built without using a single nail. The hall features dragon pillars entwined with carvings and flying phoenixes. Most remarkably, the bases of two pillars are uneven—one pillar protrudes about a foot above the ground, while the other is sunken by several inches—yet the two remain perfectly balanced without any tilt, a true marvel of craftsmanship and considered a unique wonder. In front of the Buddha statue is a well called the "Life Release Well," whose bottom connects directly to the "Nine Stone Jars" by the river. On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Buddha’s birthday, charitable individuals would buy ducks, fish, shrimp, turtles, and tortoises to release them into the well. The released creatures were said to always emerge from the "Nine Stone Jars." The roof of BaoLun Temple features upturned eaves and corners. From a distance, its tiles appear ordinary, but close up, their undersides are smooth. When sunlight hits them, they shine brilliantly, and after the rain, a rainbow seems to stretch across the temple. In the early morning, shrouded in the mist of the Jialing River, the temple becomes even more mysterious. Viewed from Gele Mountain, the temple glows with auspicious light, illuminating the sky. Perhaps this is the legendary "Buddha’s Light Shining on BaoLun Temple." At its peak, the temple housed over 300 monks and more than 100 meditation rooms. Numerous monks from other regions came here to receive precepts and engage in monastic training.

　　   With the arrival of Emperor Jianwen, the Buddha's light at BaoLun Temple grew even brighter, visible from the well's mouth all the way to Liziba. In ancient times, the temple had layered halls and lush forests, filled with birdsong, and was covered with verdant pines and cypresses. There were 16 halls and 372 Buddha statues inside. Unfortunately, the halls were destroyed during the wars at the end of the Ming Dynasty, leaving only the Mahavira Hall standing. During the Anti-Japanese War, some surviving meditation rooms at the rear hall were also bombed and destroyed by Japanese aircraft when Chongqing was under attack.

　　   In the original Mahavira Hall, there once stood a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, sculpted in the mid-Qing Dynasty. The large Buddha has a kind expression, with slightly upturned lips, and a tall, seated figure in a cross-legged posture. The sculpture is both dignified and majestic, exquisitely lifelike. Upon entering the hall and gazing at the Buddha, one can't help but feel a sense of the boundless compassion of the Dharma and develop reverence and admiration. Despite the passage of time and many trials, the statue still shines with a golden radiance, a testament to the exceptional skill of ancient religious sculptors.