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Explore the region
About Jindeng Temple
Formerly called Baoyan Temple, the complex combines rock-cut sanctuaries with wooden halls arranged along a narrow ledge above a deep valley. Its surviving grottoes were carved chiefly from the Hongzhi to Jiajing reigns. Seven courtyards and many small cliff sculptures reveal how the buildings adapted to a site with sheer rock behind and a drop in front.
The central Shuilu Hall, dated to 1488, has a floor cut into a spring-fed pool, crossed by stone bridges forming the shape of the Chinese character 田. Carved Buddhist figures and ceiling panels occupy the same rock-cut interior. A nearby group of stone reliquary pagodas adds another part of the temple's sculptural landscape.
An official notice published on 4 August 2026 announced closure from 30 July, with reopening to be announced separately. This is the last access notice verified for this entry. Check for a subsequent reopening notice before planning entry.
What to look for
- The cliffside sequence of rock-cut caves and wooden halls
- Shuilu Hall's pool, stone bridges and Buddhist carving, when accessible
- The stone reliquary pagodas beside the temple
Location & getting there
Getting to Jindeng Temple
Check which interiors and courtyards are accessible. Active places of worship and protected monuments may have different visitor rules.
- Search for 金灯寺 with 长治市 and 平顺县.
Find Jindeng Temple
金灯寺 · 平顺县
No reliable map pin yet: search by the Chinese name.
Sources & visit information
The linked sources support the identity and background described in this introduction. Opening hours, admission, activity availability and exact arrival arrangements have not been comprehensively checked. Confirm current visitor information with the venue; the original catalogue locality and editorial review flag are retained.