Things to do in Wutai County

No. 2 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shanxi

Wu Tai Shan

Wu Tai Shan is located in Wutai County, Xinzhou City. It is named for its five peaks, whose summits are flat like platforms and cluster together. As the sacred site of Bodhisattva Manjushri, it is dotted with numerous temples and is one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. It is also a well-known summer resort, with a cool and pleasant climate in summer. What makes it unique is the coexistence of Yellow Temples (Tibetan Buddhism) and Blue Temples (Han Buddhism); visitors can see both Han Buddhist monks and Tibetan lamas, and this pattern of Han and Tibetan Buddhism coexisting is quite rare among China's sacred Buddhist mountains. If the five fingers are likened to the towering "Five Terraces," the palm is Taihuai Town—the geographic center of the attraction, where most temples are concentrated and which serves as the main base for visitors. To the northwest of the town lies a cluster of essential temples, which can be explored on foot or by the attraction's eco-friendly shuttle bus. The Great White Stupa of Tayuan Temple is the landmark structure of the attraction; in front of the gate of Luohou Temple stand a pair of ancient stone lions; Xiantong Temple is the largest Qingmiao (Chinese Buddhist) temple on the mountain; and Pusading is a highly representative Yellow Hat (Tibetan Buddhist) monastery. From Taihuai Town, crossing the Qingshui River to the north, you reach Dailuoding. Ascending the Dazhi Road with over a thousand stone steps, you can pay homage to the Five Directional Manjushri statues, known as the "Little Pilgrimage," or take a round-trip cable car. Heading south along the road, Bishan Temple is a Ten Directions Zen Monastery, housing a Burmese jade Buddha and a statue of the future Buddha Maitreya; Shuxiang Temple contains a tall painted clay statue of Manjushri; Nanshan Temple is renowned for its dazzling array of stone carvings and offers distant views of the South, North, and Central Terraces. Zhenhai Temple is serene and secluded, preserving painted murals within, and local folklore tells of legends related to Emperor Shunzhi's renunciation. In addition to the main temples above, there are also Nanchan Temple, Longquan Temple, Baiyun Temple, and others on the mountain, each with its own distinctive features. If you wish to reach the summit of the five terraces—known as the "Great Pilgrimage to the Terraces"—the East Terrace, Wanghai Peak, is a great place to watch the sunrise, with spectacular views of the sea of clouds and the rising sun; the South Terrace is covered with wildflowers in summer; on the West Terrace on an autumn night, the moon hangs like a mirror above the peak; the North Terrace is a high peak in North China and an excellent spot for enjoying snowy scenery, offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains after snowfall.

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Xinzhou

Foguang Temple

Foguang Temple was rebuilt in the tenth year of Emperor Xuanzong's reign in Tang Dynasty (856). In terms of construction time, it is second only to the main hall of Nanchan Temple in Wutai County, which was built in the third year of Tang Jianzhong (AD 782). The existing wooden structure in the country Second place in the building. The Tang Dynasty buildings, Tang Dynasty sculptures, Tang Dynasty murals, and Tang Dynasty inscriptions in Foguang Temple are of high historical and artistic value, and are called "Four Wonders". The halls of Foguang Temple are tall and stacked on top of each other, and the layout is sparse, with clear priorities. The east hall stands on a high platform, and there are 35 painted sculptures of the Tang Dynasty on the Buddhist altar in the hall. Sakyamuni Buddha sits in the center of the Buddhist altar, Amitabha Buddha is on the right, Maitreya Buddha is on the left, and the two Bodhisattvas are Samantabhadra and Manjusri. This is different from ordinary temples. In general temples, Manjushri is on the left and Samantabhadra is on the right. However, in all the temples in Foguang Temple and Mount Wutai, Manjusri is on the right and Samantabhadra is on the left. The Bodhisattva Servant and the Bodhisattva in the hall are both daughters, and there is a little red dot in the middle of the crooked eyebrows, which looks quite charming. In front of the inner wall surrounding the Buddhist altar, there are 500 Arhats, shaped for the Ming Dynasty, which are "sketches" of the same size. It is worth noting that there is a Tang Dynasty mural on the back of the Buddha seat. This painting is 80 cm long and 30 cm high. It depicts the story of the heavenly king subduing demons and ghosts. In the middle stands a woman wearing a flower crown and looking panic. Although this painting is more than a thousand years old, its color is still fresh. There is also a mural painted in the fourth year of Xuanhe in the Northern Song Dynasty (1122), which is also quite distinctive. There are seven round lights on the painting, and there are 10 Buddha statues in each round light, and the names of the Buddhas are also written in the boxes under the round lights. The title on the left: "Liu Taizhi, a Buddhist disciple of Foguangzhuang... Xuanhe four years in early March..." These murals, together with the Buddha statues, some black traces under the beams and the building of the East Hall, are known as the "Fourth" of Foguang Temple. absolutely".

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Wutai Mountain

Shuxiang Temple

Shuxiang Temple was built in the early years of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was rebuilt many times in the Ming Dynasty, and it was called the Wutai Mountain "Five Zen Place" together with Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple, Bodhisattva, and Luohou Temple. Facing the Fanxian Mountain, it is named after the Manjushri Bodhisattva in the temple. The iconic building of Shuxiang Temple is the Manjusri Pavilion, and the existing temple was built by Zen Master Tielinguo in the Ming Dynasty. When visiting Shuxiang Temple, don't forget to visit the "Prajna Spring" at the gate. "Prajna Spring" means "the spring of wisdom" in Sanskrit. It is said that drinking the spring water here can help grow wisdom and get rid of folly. When the emperors of the Qing Dynasty came to Wutai Mountain to worship the Buddha on the mountain, they would also drink the spring water.

No. 8 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Xinzhou

Nanchan Temple

Nanchan Temple, located in Lijia Village, Yangbai Township, Wutai County, is a rare national treasure in terms of architecture, statues and brick carvings. Nanchan Temple has the oldest existing wooden structure in my country, the Great Buddha Hall. It is the oldest building among the ancient buildings in Mount Wutai. According to the inscription on the beam of the hall, it can be determined that the hall was rebuilt in the third year of Tang Dezong Jianzhong (782 AD), which has a history of more than one thousand years. The Great Buddha Hall is the main building of Nanchan Temple, sharing twelve eaves pillars to support the huge roof. The stigmas of the surrounding eaves and columns are slightly inward, and the four corner columns are slightly higher, so that the arches protruding from each layer are lifted up, and the ends of the ridge are decorated with owl kisses. The main hall is stable and pretty, with a concise structure and a typical large-scale wooden structure in the mid-Tang Dynasty. In the main hall, you can also admire the statues of the Tang Dynasty. In the hall, there is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, and on both sides are two Bodhisattvas, Manjushri and Samantabhadra. Whether it is Manjusri Bodhisattva riding a lion, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva riding an elephant, or Ananda and Kasyapa standing still, all of them have a calm demeanor and lifelike expressions. Around the Buddhist altar, there are dozens of Tang Dynasty brick carvings, all of which are masterpieces of Tang Dynasty brick relief art. There are also two stone lions and stone pagodas in Nanchan Temple, which are also relics of the Tang Dynasty. One is a reclining lion, and the other is in the form of "two lions facing each other"; the stone pagoda is about half a meter high and is divided into five floors.

Dailuoding

Dailuoding Temple is located east of the central temple cluster area in Taihuai Town, perched on the steep mid-mountain ridge of Dailuoding. Commonly known as the "Little Wutai Pilgrimage," Dailuoding Temple offers a condensed version of the sacred circuit. The five peaks of Wutai Mountain each enshrine a distinct statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Completing the full pilgrimage to all five summits to worship these statues is called the "Great Wutai Pilgrimage," which requires considerable physical stamina and ample time. At Dailuoding, replicas of all five Manjushri statues are gathered together, allowing visitors to complete their devotional circuit in one location—hence earning it the name "Little Wutai Pilgrimage." To reach Dailuoding, visitors can either walk or take the cable car. There are two walking routes available. Most visitors choose the staircase path called "Great Wisdom Path," which consists of 1,080 steps spanning approximately 500 meters. Devotees believe this path leads to wisdom, and those who walk it will gain intelligence and insight. Alternatively, there is a northern mountain trail that is longer but gentler in slope. After ascending the stone steps, you'll see the archway, stone lions, and mountain gate of Dailuoding. Along the central axis of Dailuoding Temple from west to east are the Heavenly King Hall, Sandalwood Hall (Standing Altar Hall), Five Manjushri Hall, and Mahavira Hall. Inside the Sandalwood Hall, you'll find a unique standing statue of Sakyamuni Buddha on the altar instead of the usual seated posture. The Five Manjushri Hall houses statues of five manifestations of Manjushri: Childlike Manjushri, Stainless Manjushri, Wisdom Manjushri, Intelligent Manjushri, and Lion's Roar Manjushri. From the summit of Dailuoding, you can gaze upon the surrounding scenery, including the four peaks of Wutai (South, West, North, and Central) as well as numerous temples in the central area of Taihuai Town, such as Tayuan Temple, Pusading Temple, Xiantong Temple, and Wanfo Pavilion (part of the Wutai Mountain Scenic Area). Just a few dozen meters below Dailuoding (along the Dazhi Road hiking path), you'll find Shangshancai Cave Temple, an extension of Shancai Cave Temple. Inside Shangshancai Cave lies a large burial ground called "Shituolin," where many monks who took vows at Wutai Mountain are laid to rest.

No. 3 of Activities in Shanxi

Buddhist Cultural Experience in Xinzhou

Xinzhou is located at the gateway of the Buddhist kingdom in northern Shanxi. The holy land of Wutai Mountain has been here for thousands of years. 108 Buddhist temples are scattered like stars among the mountains, gathering the essence of Han and Tibetan Buddhist civilizations. Climb to the Dailuo Peak of Wutai Mountain, make a pilgrimage to the dojo of Manjusri Bodhisattva, the gilded bronze hall of Xiantong Temple reflects the sun, the prayer flags of the white pagoda of Tayuan Temple flutter, and the Tang Dynasty brackets of the East Hall of Foguang Temple support the "Asian Buddha Light". In the main hall of Nanchan Temple, there are Tang Dynasty colored sculptures holding flowers and smiling, and the inscriptions in ink between the beams solidify the time code of 782 years. In the morning, you can go to the temple to chant with the monks, listen to the clear sound of Buddhist chants in the afternoon at Zhulin Temple, walk around the pagoda in the twilight, and feel the Zen immersion of "cool realm". During the mule and horse conference in June of the lunar calendar, the drums and trumpets of the Tibetan Dharma Assembly at Bodhisattva Peak sounded, and the wonder of "flowering Buddha" at Luohou Temple attracted thousands of people to join their hands. Experience the making of butter flowers, watching the debate, tasting the vegetarian Zen tea cooked with eight merits water, and copying the "Avatamsaka Sutra" fragments by the Mingyue Pond. Xinzhou takes Wutai Mountain as its core, blending architectural treasures, Zen meditation rituals and natural charm, paving a pilgrimage road for those who seek the Dharma to reach the Buddhist rhyme of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

Pusa Ding (Bodhisattva Top)

Pu Si Ding is located on Lingjiu Peak in Taihuai Town, Wutai Mountain. It is said to be the place where Manjusri Bodhisattva lives. It is commonly known as Zhenrongyuan or Da Wenshu Temple. The temple was founded during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (471-499). In the 17th year of Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1660), Pu Si Ding was changed from a green temple to a yellow temple, and an abbot was sent from Beijing. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the temple was granted the "Fan-Han Superintendent Seal", and the archway in front of the mountain gate was built in the form of four pillars and seven floors.

Xiantong Temple

Xiantong Temple is located in Wutai Mountain, Xinzhou, Shanxi Province, China. It is one of the temples with a long history in Wutai Mountain. The temple attracts many tourists and believers with its profound Buddhist culture and unique architectural style. The architectural complex of Xiantong Temple includes the Main Hall, the Heavenly King Hall and the Sutra Library, which show the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Chinese architecture. The Buddha statues in the temple are exquisitely carved, especially the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha in the Main Hall, which is awe-inspiring. Xiantong Temple is not only a center of religious activities, but also a good place to appreciate ancient architecture and art. The environment around the temple is quiet and suitable for meditation and feeling the atmosphere of Buddhist culture. Xiantong Temple is close to the central area of ​​Wutai Mountain. Tourists can choose to take local tourist buses or taxis to get there. Xiantong Temple will have religious activities during Buddhist festivals. Tourists can choose to visit during these times to experience richer cultural activities. Xiantong Temple is not only a religious holy place, but also an ideal place to explore the history and architectural art of Chinese Buddhism.

Tayuan Temple

The Pagoda Temple is located south of Xiantong Temple, Taihuai Town, Mount Wutai. It got its name from the big white pagoda in the temple. Its full name is "Sakyamuni Dagoba." The big white pagoda is the main symbol of the temple. It looks magnificent against the backdrop of the temple's red walls and glazed tile roof. The temple is built around the big white pagoda, with structures arranged along a central axis, including a screen wall, memorial archway and gate.

Yanqing Temple