Hongchunping Temple 洪椿坪

About Hongchunping Temple

Its name recalls the old chun trees associated with the site, while the arrangement of Guanyin, main and Samantabhadra halls provides a clear focus after the climb. The finely carved Thousand Buddha lotus lantern is a distinctive part of its artistic heritage. This is a place to include in a deliberate mountain walk, not a quick detour from a summit cable-car visit.

Hongchunping Temple was first built in the early Ming dynasty by the monk Chushan Xingyi (楚山性一) as the Thousand Buddha Chan Temple (千佛禅院), commonly known as the Thousand Buddha Temple (千佛庵). It was substantially extended in 1631, during the Chongzhen reign of the late Ming, but a catastrophic fire in 1778, the 43rd year of the Qianlong era, destroyed most of its buildings. Twelve years later the temple was restored and redecorated by the monk Eyun (峨云) and renamed Hongchunping after three 1,200-year-old Ailanthus altissima (洪椿) trees growing in front of it.

The temple faces northeast from a southwest orientation and covers a building area of 5,000 square meters. Its main structures include the Shanmen, Hall of Four Heavenly Kings, Hall of Guanyin, Mahavira Hall and a meditation hall, together with monks' quarters. It has been designated a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area by the State Council since 1983.

What to look for

• The temple’s wooded setting and sequence of Buddhist halls.
• The carved Thousand Buddha lotus lantern, subject to access to its display.

Location & getting there

Getting to Hongchunping Temple

Approach on the signed trail above Qingyin Pavilion and the Yixiantian section. Check trail conditions before taking the western ascent, and do not infer walking time from the short straight-line distance on a map.