Upper City Buddhist Temple

　　The Upper City Buddhist Temple, also known as Jing'er (in the Dai language, meaning "Buddhist Temple of the Dragon City"), is located in Menglian Town, Menglian County, Yunnan Province. Perched on Golden Mountain and adjacent to a cluster of Dracaena cochinchinensis trees, it is an important part of the ancient Dai town of Naxun. Legend has it that a cave within the temple connects to the Dragon Pool of the Nanlei River. It is said that dragons from the pool often traveled through this passage to the temple to listen to sermons, receive incense offerings, and thus the temple is also called "Dragon Myanmar Temple." The temple enjoys a high reputation as the exclusive place of worship for the chieftain’s family during the chieftainship period. Visiting eminent monks from both China and abroad would typically reside here when they came to Menglian. Today, it serves as a site for Theravāda Buddhist activities, a center for the dissemination of Dai culture, art, customs, and traditions, as well as an important repository and exhibition space for Dai cultural classics, folk art, and architectural styles.

　　The Upper City Buddhist Temple was built in 1868, covering an area of over 5,000 square meters. It consists of the main Buddha hall, monk quarters, the main gate, corridors, scripture pavilions, a golden stupa, and a silver stupa. The main structure, the Buddha hall, features a hip-and-gable roof with triple eaves and an outer corridor, constructed with earth and timber. Fifty-six pillars are symmetrically arranged in eight rows. Various floral, animal, and human motifs are gilded onto the pillars, beams, rafters, and eaves. The roof is covered with small hanging tiles. The shrine enshrines a statue of Sakyamuni, surrounded by various banners offered by devotees. These banners depict Dai myths and legends, life patterns, and vividly illustrate the history, architecture, production, daily life, religion, and beliefs of the Dai people through traditional folk arts such as paper-cutting, brocade weaving, and colorful painting.