Baolin Chan Temple

　　Baolin Chan Temple in Jiulong Mountain, Leizhou City, is embraced by mountains and surrounded by water. With its tranquil environment, fresh air, and pleasant scenery, it is an ideal site for chanting and spiritual practice, as well as a great destination for sightseeing.

　　Baolin Chan Temple was founded in the spring of 1978 by Master Shi Shanlin from Yuhuatai Temple in Leizhou City. It is located at Chaoluogang, Jiulong Mountain, Diaofeng Town, Leizhou City, bordered by Shouhuo Farm to the south, adjacent to Diaofeng Market to the northwest, and about 40 kilometers from Leizhou City, a national-level historical and cultural city. Covering an area of over 50 acres, it consists of wing rooms, dining halls, Guanyin Hall, Skanda Hall, Mahavira Hall, and other structures with a total construction area of 4,500 square meters, with a total investment of approximately 3.5 million yuan.

　　At the mountain gate, lush grass and blooming flowers seem to whisper. Inside the Guanyin Hall, the 108-armed Avalokiteshvara statue on the lotus throne is proportionate, exquisitely crafted, with multiple layers of fan-like hands, each inlaid with an eye, creating a spectacular sight that showcases the sculptor’s exceptional craftsmanship.

　　In the Skanda Hall, General Skanda, clad in armor and wielding a demon-subduing weapon, stands majestically, guarding the original Mahavira Hall opposite. The hall houses statues of the Three Great Buddhas, Eighteen Arhats, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, among others. The sculptural artistry is delicate, with lifelike images complemented by vivid reliefs on the hall's beams—such as lions roaring, elephants trumpeting, dragons roaring and tigers howling, and twin phoenixes heralding the sun—all symbolizing good fortune. Together, they form a serene and sacred scene.

　　To the left of the original Mahavira Hall is the newly built, solemn Mahavira Hall. The hall faces north and sits against the mountain, fronted by water. Leizhou’s renowned Jiushijiuqu (Ninety-Nine Bends) River flows past the front of the hall before joining the sea. In front lies Huangniugang Hill, flanked by the Sun, Moon, and Star ridges, while nine dragon-shaped veins converge around the area, resembling dragons playing in water—hence the name Jiulong Mountain (Nine-Dragon Mountain). The ancestral tomb of Chen Changqi (courtesy name Guanlou), a Qing Dynasty Hanlin academician, editor of the Siku Quanshu, and a Jinshi scholar, faces the hall across the creek. To the temple’s northeast lies the tomb of the “Bronze Drum King.” According to the Records of Geography in the Book of Sui: “Among the local tribes, those who possess bronze drums are called ‘elders’ (chieftains), respected and esteemed by all,” making the Bronze Drum King’s Tomb the burial site of an ancient tribal chieftain of Leizhou’s Li-Lao people, holding archaeological significance for the study of the region’s ancient Li-Lao culture. To this day, legends persist in Leizhou about the “Bronze Drum King’s Tomb” producing an “emperor” and 36 celestial beings descending to protect him. To the northwest is General Mountain, where the “general” holds a treasured sword, appearing majestic, giving rise to the saying, “Live by the Chaocreek, bury at Chaoluogang.” The Mahavira Hall spans over 700 square meters, featuring innovative design and a unique style that blends ancient and modern architectural elements, appearing both dignified and classic yet also modern and functional. It is currently one of the most magnificent and largest Mahavira Halls in Leizhou City, with a construction cost of about 300,000 yuan. The three exquisitely carved statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Bhaisajyaguru Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha, along with Ananda and Mahakasyapa, made from camphorwood, are vividly lifelike. Paired with the profound and powerful couplet inscribed by Master Shi Yunfeng, President of the Guangdong Buddhist Association, and penned by the renowned Chinese calligrapher Shen Ding’an: “The radiant light illuminates the pure land of bright moon and gentle breeze; the secluded forest scenery enjoys the serenity of green mountains and clear waters,” as well as the splendid grand hall, the sight is truly breathtaking.

　　To the west of Baolin Chan Temple lies a valley of deep forests and dense shades, hidden paths and dark caves, where birds take flight and beasts roam. A gentle breeze drifts through the woods, and wisps of floating clouds resemble sheer silk dancing with the wind. Here, wildflowers bloom everywhere, and the climate feels like eternal spring, a delight to the senses. The mountain rocks take on a myriad of shapes: some resemble turtles emerging from caves, others like carp leaping the Dragon Gate, lions playing with balls, dragons spouting pearls, nobles and generals, or even musical instruments like lutes and gongs... Crystal-clear waterfalls cascade down cliffs, evoking the imagery of Li Bai’s “Waterfalls plunge three thousand zhang, as if the Milky Way fell from the sky.” In the calmer pools, fish chase and frolic amid colorful stones, while the unfathomable depths of a mysterious cave are said to connect to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. On either side of the Abandoning Dust Cave, which bears the inscription: “Receiving much but upholding precepts little; accepting grace is easy, repaying it hard,” a monk once spent years in seclusion.

　　Arriving here, one feels an open heart and forgets all worries and sorrows...

　　(No pictures available at present; contributions are welcome.)