In the small county town's Citywalk, the unforgettable supreme national treasure, Fengguo Temple, stands out

Fengguo Temple made me fall in love at first sight! From the moment I saw the photo, I decided to visit. I couldn't wait for the Qingming Festival mini-holiday to rush to Yixian County in Jinzhou, where Fengguo Temple is located in this little-known small county town. When I, full of anticipation, truly stood inside the Daxiong Hall and looked up at the seven Buddha statues, the shock in my heart told me: this trip was worth it. Built in 1020, Fengguo Temple is a royal monastery constructed by Emperor Yelü Longxu of the Liao Dynasty in his mother Empress Dowager Xiao's hometown. It has a typical Han Chinese Buddhist temple layout, and the Daxiong Hall is the only remaining Liao Dynasty building in the temple, hailed by Liang Sicheng as 'a millennium national treasure, the supreme national treasure,' and is the largest existing ancient single-story wooden structure in China. The temple's mountain gate, archway, and Hall of Heavenly Kings were all rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. When it comes to 'Buddha,' most people only think of Sakyamuni, but the main hall of Fengguo Temple houses seven Buddha statues, representing Sakyamuni and the six Buddhas who appeared before him. All seven Buddhas have entered parinirvana and are thus known as the Past Seven Buddhas. The seven Buddha statues have similar sitting postures and expressions, but a closer look reveals that each has a different hand gesture, representing different aspects of Buddhist wisdom and compassion. 🔶Essence of the Daxiong Hall: 1. Architecture: A representative of the top construction standards of the Liao Dynasty, using the highest specifications of seven-layer bracket sets for Buddhist halls. The fact that we can witness this once-in-a-millennium treasure today is not unrelated to the exquisite craftsmanship and meticulous material selection of the time. 2. Liao Dynasty clay-colored Buddha statues: In addition to the seven Buddha statues, the Daxiong Hall also contains 14 Bodhisattva statues and two Heavenly King statues, all of which are fine examples of Liao Dynasty Buddhist statuary art. 3. Reversed Avalokiteshvara: Sculpted during the Ming Dynasty, it sits back-to-back with the Vipasyin Buddha among the seven Buddhas, a relatively rare male form of Avalokiteshvara. 4. Paintings and murals: The paintings on the beams of the Daxiong Hall are well preserved, with excellent depictions of flying Apsaras. There are Yuan Dynasty murals on the walls, but unfortunately, they are severely damaged and have become indistinct. 🔶Hall of Heavenly Kings: Originally built during the Jin Dynasty and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. In the center of the hall, Maitreya Buddha is enshrined, flanked by Heavenly Kings holding different ritual instruments, symbolizing the wish for favorable weather. The well-preserved murals here are worth a closer look, depicting stories of Sakyamuni. Fengguo Temple Practical Information 📍Address and Transportation: No. 18 Dong Street, Yixian County, Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, equipped with a parking lot that charges per use. 🕑Opening Hours: 8:00-16:30 🎫Ticket Price: On-site tickets are 50 yuan, online tickets are 40 yuan, but they must be purchased at least 3 hours in advance. 🌟Tips: 1. There is a guided tour service in the scenic area, which allows for a more detailed visit. 2. The temple offers a self-service vegetarian meal, worth trying if you happen to be there at mealtime. 3. The cultural and creative shop offers stamp collection and souvenirs for purchase.