Located
15km west of Kunming,
Western Hills is a range
of four mountains
stretching over 40
kilometers along the
western shore of Dianchi
Lake, looking like a
Sleeping Beauty with
long tresses trailing
away to the south.
With an elevation of
1900-2350 meters,
Western Hills contains
the best scenery and
some of the finest
temples in the entire
region.
Huating Temple (Huating
Si)
Built in the 11th
century, it used to be a
county temple of the
Nanzhao Kingdom. Rebuilt
in 14th century, it
continued to grow and
later became the largest
Buddhist complex in
Kunming.
The main temple contains
a trinity of gilded
lacquer Buddhas seated
on lotus thrones. It is
characterized by blue
hair, august gesture and
sumptuous setting.
Comparing with the
serious Buddha, the 500
luohan on the sidewalls,
similar to those in the
Bamboo Temple, then
appear frivolous and
easygoing.
Taihua Temple (Taihua Si)
With an elevation of
2350m, Taihua Temple is
located in a deep forest
2 kilometers away from
Huating Temple. First
built in the Yuan
dynasty, it is the
oldest temple in Western
Hills. The temple was
destroyed and rebuilt
for several times, and
the present one dates
back to 1687.
The temple is famous for
its rare flowers and
trees. Many camellia,
magnolia, sweet-scented
osmanthus and others
trees were planted in
and outside the temple,
made the temple the best
place to enjoy the
flowers.
The main hall in this
temple is Hall of the
Precious Hero (Daxiong
Baodian), where Buddhas
of the Three Ages:
Sakyamuni, Maitreys and
Kasyapa-matanga are
enshrined. Behind the
main hall stands an
altar to Guanyin.
Reputed as Deliverer of
Sons, Guanyin is widely
enshrined by newlyweds
and barren couples who
hope to get a male baby.
Sanqing Pavilion (Three
Pure Pavilion)
To the south of Huating
Temple is Three Purity
Pavilion. Different from
the former temples, this
temple follows Taoist
architectural style.
Originally built in the
early 14th century as a
summer resort for a
Mongol prince of the
Yuan dynasty, the
pavilion later was
renovated as a Daoist
shrine.
The two-storey pavilion
now serves as a
teahouse. Statues of
Zhen Wu and Taishang
Laojun were enshrined
there. A stone carving,
depicting a green snake
winding around a
tortoise stands by the
road. Snake and tortoise
are symbols of longevity
and it is said that one
who touches the carving
would live longer.
Dragon Gate (Longmen)
Totally cut on a natural
precipice, Dragon Gate
is the highlight of
Western Hills. With an
elevation of 2,500
meters, it is the
highest temple on the
hill.
In 1781, a necessitous
Daoist monk named Wu
Laiqing, motivated by
devotion, began chipping
his way up the cliff
with hammer and chisel.
After his death, two
devoted gentlemen, aided
by villagers from the
foot of the mountain,
continued his project.
After years’ hard work,
they finally inched the
route precariously
upward to a natural
cliff-top platform,
completing Wu Laiqing’s
visionary plan in 1853.
Many inscriptions and
steles are found here
and there in Dragon
Gate. Near Air Corridor
stands an arch on which
the characters "Longmen"
(Dragon Gate) were
inscribed. Looking down
from here, one may have
a bird’s view of Kunming
city and Dianchi Lake. |