Yuantong Temple

Kunming Yuantong Zen Temple, located on Yuantong Street in Kunming city, is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Kunming, with a history of over 1200 years. It was originally built during the Nanzhao era of the Tang Dynasty and was initially named Putuo Temple. In the fifth year of the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty (1301 AD), it was rebuilt on the ruins of Putuo Temple and renamed Yuantong Temple. Yuantong Temple is not only the largest temple in Kunming but also one of the earliest Guanyin worship sites in China, predating the Guanyin worship site on Mount Putuo in Zhejiang by over 100 years. The temple houses a statue of the Three Buddhas from the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty. In the main hall, there are two pillars over 10 meters high, each adorned with a colorful dragon, and the walls are decorated with statues of 500 Arhats. With its unique architectural style and profound cultural heritage, Yuantong Temple has become one of Kunming's cultural landmarks, attracting countless tourists and devotees for pilgrimage.