Xiangcheng Luyuan Temple

　　Luyuan Temple is situated on the north side of Dongcui Street in Nandun Town, Xiangcheng City, Henan Province. It was established in the fourth year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty (505 AD) by Emperor Wu Xiao Yan. During the middle of the Zhide era (780–783 AD) of the Tang Dynasty, it was renovated by imperial decree and became even more magnificent than before. It was destroyed during the chaos at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. In the fifth year of the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1430), the monk Huairen from Niushou Monastery oversaw its reconstruction. During the Zhengde era (1506–1521), the monk Hongjin, together with local resident Zhang Zhao, sold their property to donate funds for repairs. The temple remained grand and bustling, attracting many monks. Later, local residents Chen Shoushen and Zhang Yangxing carried out further renovations. By the third year of the Xuantong era of the Qing Dynasty (1911), the temple halls no longer existed, with tiles and stones lying in ruins. Only two ginkgo trees behind the temple remained, each several zhang tall, with trunks over a zhang in circumference. Their branches intertwined, reaching high into the sky and blocking out the sunlight. Even in the height of summer, a chill could be felt. In 1959, one of the eastern ginkgo trees was blown down by strong winds. A few years ago, the other ginkgo tree was destroyed in a fire.