Lake Temple in Haikou

　　The Lake Temple is located on Gangkou Road, Xiuying District, Haikou City, Hainan Province. Approaching the Lake Temple, once you pass through the courtyard gate, you’ll find the only building there — the “Mahavira Hall.” The couplet on the hall’s door reads: “The spiritual lake and the majestic hall stand solemnly and splendidly, exuding holiness through the ages; the Buddha’s light and divine grace shine brilliantly, bestowing blessings for all time.” It has grandeur but lacks distinctiveness. Much like unlucky residents who have faced forced demolitions time and again, the current site of the “Lake Temple” is now quite cramped. Inside the hall hang devotional prayer banners offered by believers, inscribed with phrases such as “Miraculous Responses Reverberate Far and Wide” and “Buddha’s Light Shines Upon All.” The temple also enshrines statues brought from Mount Jiuhua, a sacred Buddhist mountain — including golden-lacquered camphorwood carvings of the “Three Precious Buddhas,” the “Eighteen Arhats,” the “Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva,” and the “North Emperor.” Though not old in years, the roof has already been darkened by incense smoke when you look up, giving off a strong sense of history. Surrounding the temple, apart from lotus leaves covering the pond, there’s nothing but the hustle and bustle of daily life. Residential buildings stand shoulder to shoulder nearby, and not far away there’s a local kopi tiam (traditional coffee shop), while opposite the temple lies an outdoor play area for a kindergarten. One can’t help but think that the “Lake Temple” has had quite a rough fate. It was originally situated on Daying Mountain right in the city center, but was forcibly relocated during the construction of a park. People don’t understand — how could a park not make room for a temple? When it moved to what was then a suburban area, the temple stubbornly held on until the establishment of the province, only to later have to make way for developers, retreating from the roadside to the back. It even had to change its name, from “Jishan Temple” to “Lake Temple.” As the saying goes, “It is not the mountain that is high that is famous, but the presence of an immortal; it is not the depth of water that gives it spirit, but the presence of a dragon.” Fortunately, the public has remained loyal. Whether in the bustling city or by the lake, no matter what name it takes, people continue to support and revere it, searching it out to pay their respects.

　　Surrounding the temple, apart from lotus leaves covering the pond, there’s nothing but the hustle and bustle of daily life. Residential buildings stand shoulder to shoulder nearby, and not far away there’s a local kopi tiam (traditional coffee shop), while opposite the temple lies an outdoor play area for a kindergarten. One can’t help but think that the “Lake Temple” has had quite a rough fate. It was originally situated on Daying Mountain right in the city center, but was forcibly relocated during the construction of a park. People don’t understand — how could a park not make room for a temple? When it moved to what was then a suburban area, the temple stubbornly held on until the establishment of the province, only to later have to make way for developers, retreating from the roadside to the back. It even had to change its name, from “Jishan Temple” to “Lake Temple.” As the saying goes, “It is not the mountain that is high that is famous, but the presence of an immortal; it is not the depth of water that gives it spirit, but the presence of a dragon.” Fortunately, the public has remained loyal. Whether in the bustling city or by the lake, no matter what name it takes, people continue to support and revere it, searching it out to pay their respects.

　　Address: Gangkou Road, Xiuying District, Haikou City, Hainan Province

　　Transportation: Take bus routes 3, 6, 7, 28, 35, or 41 within Haikou City, get off at Xiuying Port Market Station, and walk to the temple