Zhongdu Buddhist Garden

　　The Zhongdu Buddhist Garden scenic area mainly features five key tourist attractions: first, the Nine Dragons Pouring Water – the Birth of the Buddha; second, the Five-Colored Translucent Reclining Buddha – the Nirvana of the Buddha; third, the Thousand-Buddha Underground Palace – Sacred Relics; fourth, the Pagoda’s Buddhist Light – the Manifestation of the Buddha; fifth, the Auspicious Clouds in the Night Sky – the Appearance of the Buddha.

　　Introduction

　　The Zhongdu Buddhist Garden tourist area is located within the urban area of Wenshang County in southwestern Shandong, adjacent to the "Three Confucian Sites" to the east, Liangshan to the west, Mount Tai to the north, and the Weishan Lake Scenic Area to the south. It is a renowned Buddhist cultural tourism destination in China. The core attraction, Baoxiang Temple, was originally built during the Tang Dynasty and was initially named Zhao Kong Temple. When Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty stopped in Wenshang during his pilgrimage to Mount Tai, he bestowed the name Baoxiang Temple upon Zhao Kong Temple. Through the dynasties of Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, the temple has enjoyed centuries of flourishing incense offerings and boasts a history of over a thousand years. It became an auspicious site frequented by emperors, officials, celebrities, and literati, and stands as a prestigious Buddhist temple on the land of Qilu.

　　The historical relics and cultural artifacts preserved in the temple have withstood a thousand years of vicissitudes and remain intact to this day. On March 15, 1994, 141 pieces of precious Buddhist sacred objects, including a Buddha's tooth and sarira, were unearthed from the underground palace of the Prince’s Relic Pagoda in Baoxiang Temple. Of particular significance was the appearance of the Buddha Shakyamuni’s tooth and sarira, which caused a sensation nationwide and shocked the world, earning Baoxiang Temple the reputation of being the “Second Famen Temple” both domestically and internationally. Baoxiang Temple is one of the earlier Buddhist sites in China to open to the public and conduct Buddhist rituals and teachings.

　　The Zhongdu Buddhist Garden tourist area spans a planned area of 1,240 mu. Major attractions include: the Screen Wall, the Main Gate, the Parking Lot, the Sea of Suffering and Universal Salvation, Mount Sumeru, and Baoxiang Temple. Upon entering Baoxiang Temple, you will find the Mountain Gate, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Cloisters, Monks’ Quarters Courtyard, the Underground Palace, the Prince’s Relic Pagoda, the Stele Pavilion, the Five-Colored Translucent Reclining Buddha, Statues of the Ten Great Disciples, the World Square, the Pagoda Forest, the Origin of Dharma Stele Forest, the Scripture Depository, and the Wenshang County Buddhist Culture Museum. The Buddha’s Life Garden area includes Lumbini Garden, Bodh Gaya, Deer Park, Kushinagar, and the Guan Di Temple. The International Buddhist Culture area features Tibetan Buddhist architecture, Japanese Buddhist architecture, Theravāda Buddhist architecture, and a Mandala Square.

　　The South Sea Guanyin area includes the Emerging Guanyin statue and the Guanyin Temple. The Buddhist Cultural Entertainment area features the Lotus Pond and Buddha’s Reflection, the Buddha’s Seal Quest, the Liberation Pond, a Children’s Playground, and a Martial Arts Training Ground. The Buddhist Cultural Leisure area includes the Jetavana City, the Three Treasures Garden, the Dao Guo Hall, and a 300-meter-long pedestrian commercial street. At the four cardinal directions within the scenic area—northeast, northwest, southwest, and southeast—stand the Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism: Vaishravana, Virupaksha, Virudhaka, and Dhritarashtra. Major Buddhist festivals feature the large-scale cultural performance “Brahma’s Buddhist Rhythm,” which depicts the stories of the Buddha’s birth, renunciation, enlightenment, nirvana, and the arrival of his tooth and sarira in Wenshang.