Baota Temple is located at the eastern foot of Goulong Mountain (also known as Wulong Mountain), 2 kilometers south of Jintan City. Originally named ‘Guandi Hall’, also known as ‘Hanshou Tinghou Temple’. Later, due to the Longshan Pagoda behind the temple, it was named ‘Baota Temple’. In the 16th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1890), it was officially named Baota Temple. The temple faces northeast from southwest. The overall building takes advantage of the mountain terrain, is well-arranged and magnificent. The Longshan Pagoda in the temple is a pavilion-style brick-wood structure, composed of tower body and tower spire. It has seven levels and eight sides, is 47.2 meters high, with stairs inside and corridors outside. The tower plane is octagonal. It was built in the Yuan Dynasty. After several renovations in the Qing Dynasty, it was repaired and reinforced again during the Qianlong period and is basically intact. It is known as one of the eight scenic spots of Jinsha, ‘Wulong Diecui’. However, during the Japanese invasion, the copper vase on the tower spire was stolen, resulting in the exposed end of the tower’s central wooden part and serious damage to the tower body. In 1987, government funds were allocated and with the support of 500,000 Hong Kong dollars from Master Yingcheng, a religious person from Jintan and living in Hong Kong. It was repaired the following year. It is a cultural heritage of important value. In 1956, it was announced as a cultural relic protection unit by the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province. There are also two cultural relic steles preserved in the temple. One is a seven-character octave poem ‘Hengshan’s Reflected Glow’ written by Han Daoxiang in the癸亥 year of the Tianqi period of the Ming Dynasty (1623); the other is the ‘Stele Inscription for Rebuilding Longshan Guandi Hall’ in the 39th year of Kangxi (1700). The specific business hours and operating status are subject to the opening situation on that day.
Baota Temple
Baota Temple is located at the eastern foot of Goulong Mountain (also known as Wulong Mountain), 2 k[...]
