Yunxiang Temple, also known as ‘Baike Hall’ or ‘Baiseng Hall’, is located 1.5 kilometers from Shunxi. The temple complex consists of two structures, the old and the new, separated by a distance of 50 meters and totaling an area of 500 square meters. The old temple was originally built during the Yuan Dynasty and was reconstructed during the Qing Kangxi era, with further rebuilding in the seventh year of the Guangxu period (1881). It features seven flat-roofed rooms and preserves numerous rubbings and inscribed steles, including a bluestone stele from the Qing Xuantong period that chronicles the temple’s rise and fall.
The new temple, completed in 1978, is a three-story wooden and stone structure with two horizontal extensions entirely made of stone. The entire temple is designed to follow the natural contours of the mountain, making use of the local conditions and boasting a rational layout, showcasing unique craftsmanship. Surrounding the temple, there are the Eryi Pavilion and the Binglang, both ideal spots for rest and relief from the heat. The Eryi Pavilion, square-shaped and built during the Qing Guangxu period, embodies the concept of being suitable for both cold and warm weather. Inside the pavilion, there are a stele commemorating the construction of the pavilion and a stele featuring the image of Chen Shaowen, the initiator. Beneath the stele lies a small hole, one meter square, with a temperature of only 14 degrees, reminiscent of the ‘Ice Cave’ in Beiyandang. The Binglang is located behind the new temple, accessible via a stone path. The cave is over two meters high, three meters wide, and twenty meters deep, resembling a long corridor in a basement. Even during the hottest days, the temperature inside the corridor remains around 17 degrees, hence its name ‘Ice Corridor’. The opening hours and specific business status are subject to the day’s conditions.Yunxiang Temple: A Serene Buddhist Retreat
Yunxiang Temple, also known as ‘Baike Hall’ or ‘Baiseng Hall’, is located 1.[...]
