Zhan Mountain Temple

Zhan Mountain Temple is located at the southwestern foot of Zhan Mountain and the eastern slope of T[...]

Zhan Mountain Temple is located at the southwestern foot of Zhan Mountain and the eastern slope of Taiping Mountain in the eastern part of Qingdao City. It was planned in 1933 and completed in 1945, covering an area of 23 acres. Construction began in 1934 with funds raised by Buddhist devotees and was completed in 1944, spanning a decade. Affiliated with the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism, the temple’s first abbot was the renowned contemporary monk Yanxu, who founded the Zhan Mountain Buddhist College. It was said that at the time, eminent monks from all over the country came to preach, and the temple flourished with the gathering of Buddhist followers and believers, becoming widely known far and wide.
At the beginning of its establishment, the temple aimed to cultivate talents to promote Buddhism with the tenet of ‘preaching Tiantai and practicing Pure Land.’ In 1940, the ‘Qingdao Zhan Mountain Buddhist School’ was established. Many moral and virtuous monks from across the country came to lecture here, making Zhan Mountain Temple famous both domestically and internationally. During the school’s operation, the Master Hongyi, a well-known literary figure and artist in China, came to lecture here. Hongyi, also known as Li Shutong after becoming a monk, was a famous monk in the study of Buddhist precepts. He was ordained at the Tiger Run Temple in Hangzhou in 1918 and came to Zhan Mountain Temple to lecture in 1937 at the invitation of Danxu. Visitors came in an endless stream to meet him.

Zhan Mountain Temple is situated between Taiping Mountain and Zhan Mountain, with different scenery in each season, especially in summer and autumn when one can truly appreciate the poetic imagery of ‘a corner of Zhan Mountain feels like autumn in summer.’ When visiting Zhan Mountain Temple, the temple’s pond in front is a must-see. Here, a pool of clear water is surrounded by blooming lotus flowers in summer and low-hanging willow leaves.

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This pond, originally a place for the faithful to release animals for merit, is named ‘The Releasing Life Pond.’ Passing the pond and climbing the steps leads to the temple, which faces north and has five courtyards. The first courtyard is the mountain gate, which bears the three large characters ‘Zhan Mountain Temple.’ The second courtyard houses the main hall, where Maitreya Bodhisattva is enshrined.

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The elegantly designed bell tower and drum tower are located on the east and west sides of the front court. Beyond the main hall is the third courtyard, where the central structure of the Buddhist temple—the Mahavira Hall—stands tall on a granite platform. The Mahavira Hall is the main hall of the temple, enshrining Sakyamuni Buddha, with Manjushri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas on the left and right, respectively.

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Passing through a garden-like courtyard, one enters the fourth courtyard, where the plaque inscribed with ‘The Legacy of Sea Mark’ by Mr. Zhao Puchu is particularly striking. Tourists familiar with the historical dispute between the monks of Laoshan Haiyin Temple will immediately recognize the plaque, which was inscribed in memory of the Ming Dynasty Master Han Shan. The hall enshrines Amitabha Buddha, with Avalokiteshvara and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattvas on the left and right.

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The fifth courtyard houses the scripture repository at the northern end of the temple, containing thousands of volumes of Buddhist scriptures.

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Exiting the Bodhi Courtyard, a seven-story pagoda stands on a steep rocky hill, named ‘The Pagoda of the Medicine Buddha Vajrapani.’ Climbing the pagoda offers a panoramic view of the city’s mountains and seas.
Zhan Shan Temple is located in a scenic spot, attracting a constant stream of visitors, especially on the Bathing Buddha Festival on the fourth day of the fourth lunar month when the temple fair is crowded with tourists.
Zhan Shan Temple, with its unique location amidst modern cityscapes, radiates a sanctified brilliance.
The ever-burning green lamps and the timeless chanting of Zen hearts allow modern people to experience a sense of mysterious inspiration and an understanding of immortality.
Opening hours are from 09:00 to 16:00 all year round.

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