Jianfu Temple

Jianfu Temple is a Chinese Buddhist temple located at West Youyi Rd. outside the south gate of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. It hosts the famous Small Wild Goose Pagoda, which was listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2014. The Xian Museum is located in the southwest corner of the temple.

History

Jianfu Temple was originally the residence of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang dynasty before he became the emperor. It was converted to a temple on the 20th day of the 3rd lunar month in AD 684 (100 days after the death of Emperor Gaozong) in order to dedicate postmortem fortune to the deceased emperor. Thus it was named as "Xianfu Temple". In AD 690 during Wu Zetian's reign, it was renamed Jianfu Temple, and also bestowed an inscribed board handwritten by the emperor. The famous Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built in the Jinglong era (707-710) of the Tang dynasty. Initially, the pagoda courtyard resided outside the temple gate, rather than inside the temple, but it was still a part of Jianfu Temple. 

Under the wing of the Tang Empire, Jianfu Temple, together with Da Ci En Temple, became prosperous. While in the Huichang era Buddhism was suppressed, Jianfu Temple was only allowed to keep 20 monks for daily maintenance, and it grievous days came. The temple suffered from the chaos of wars towards the end of the Tang dynasty, and was largely ruined. Only the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was preserved. According to historical records dating from the Yuanyou era of the Northern Song dynasty, Jianfu Temple had been moved into pagoda courtyard at that time, integrated with the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

In the Ming dynasty, Jianfu Temple was reinvigorated. There were five times of large-scale renovations, largely preserving the original pattern. In 1426, a Tibetan monk, Shaosiji from Hongjue Temple of Xiningwei, Shaanxi Province, was awarded a certificate by the Ming government, and came to preside over Jianfu Temple. Seeing the dilapidated buildings in the temple, he swore to rebuild it. The reconstruction was completed in 1449, and Shaosiji appealed to government for its name. The current "Imperial Jianfu Temple" was handwritten by the Zhengtong Emperor of the Ming dynasty.

Major Buildings

The Jianfu Temple mainly consists of the gate, the Cishi Pavilion, the Mahavira Hall, the Depository of Buddhist Sutras and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.

Ancient Trees

The ancient trees in the Jianfu Temple amount to ten, including nine Chinese scholar trees and one catalpa tree. Five Chinese scholar trees are on the two sides of the axis before the Mahavira Hall and the other four stand in the yard to the south of the Cishi Pavilion. The oldest one is called “the Dragon Scholar Tree”. Being about 1,200 years old, the tree measures 7.5 feet (2.7 meters) in girth and 30.2 feet (9.2 meters) in height. The catalpa tree is to the north of the Cishi Pavilion. With a girth of 10.5 feet (3.2 meters) and a height of 50.2 feet (15.3 meters), this tree is about 800 years old. Tourists can relax in the shade of these ancient trees.

Traditional Temple Fair

The temple fair is usually held from the 1st to the 15th of the first lunar month. People often go to the temple fair to pray for happiness during the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival). At the same time, there are large-scale lantern shows, delicate food, and all kinds of wonderful performances, including the lion dance, the Shaanxi opera, and stilt walking.

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Small Wild Goose Pagoda

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda, sometimes Little Wild Goose Pagoda, is one of two significant pagodas in the city of Xi'an, China. The other notable pagoda is the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, originally built in 652 and restored in 704. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built between 707–709, during the Tang Dynasty under Emperor Zhongzong of Tang (r 705–710). The pagoda stood 45 m (147 ft) until the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake. The earthquake shook the pagoda and damaged it so that it now stands at a height of 43 m (141 ft) with fifteen levels of tiers. The pagoda has a brick frame built around a hollow interior, and its square base and shape reflect the building style of other pagodas from the era.

During the Tang Dynasty, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda stood across a street from its mother temple, the Dajianfu Temple. Pilgrims brought sacred Buddhist writings to the temple and pagoda from India, as the temple was one of the main centers in Chang'an for translating Buddhist texts. The temple was older than the pagoda, since it was founded in 684, exactly 100 days after the death of Emperor Gaozong of Tang (r. 649–683). Emperor Zhongzong had donated his residence to the building of a new temple here, maintaining the temple for 200 monks in honor of his deceased father Gaozong. The temple was originally called the Daxianfusi or Great Monastery of Offered Blessings by Zhongzong, until it was renamed Dajianfusi by Empress Wu Zetian in 690.

Inside the pagoda, a narrow wooden stairway winds its way to the top, requiring quite an effort by those making the ascent. Children and seniors with poor physical condition are not recommended to ascend. Additionally, it is hard for larger people to pass through the narrow stairway on the upper floors.

There is a small open platform on the top due to the missing two floors. Please be aware that it is very small, allowing only ten people at one time. For tourists successfully reaching the top, it is a special experience to have a bird’s eye view of the whole temple through the broken top. One can even see a panoramic view of the ancient city of Xian on clear days.

The Morning Bell Chime of the Small Wild Goose Pagoda has been known as one of the “Top Eight Scenes of Xian” since ancient times. The original bell was built in the third year (1192) during the reign of the Emperor Zhangzong in the Jin Dynasty. It was installed in the Jianfu Temple and tolled every morning to pray for happiness in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Now the bell hangs in the Bell Tower near the pagoda and a copy of it hangs in a steel frame in the open to be rung by tourists.

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Tang Paradise

Tang Paradise is a large theme park near the city of Xi'an, in Shaanxi province. It is a newly opened tourist attraction in April, 2005. The site covers a total area of 1000 mu (about 165 acres) and of which 300 mu (about 49 acres) is water. The park is at or near the site of an earlier garden complex in the Tang Dynasty, but consists almost entirely of modern construction.

The park features numerous buildings, squares, and gardens, all incorporating features of traditional Chinese architecture, such as eaves and cornices. Some features are named after historical sites or buildings. The park is one of several modern reconstructions of ancient sites in Shaanxi, which involve anachronistic styles and features, most notably the use of wide stretches of concrete surfaces. Altogether, twelve scenic regions are distributed here to provide visitors with the enjoyment of twelve cultural themes and a perfect exhibition of the grandness, prosperity and brilliance of the culture of the Tang Dynasty.

Many firsts are created here: the first and largest scale of buildings modeled on the Tang style in China, the first and most considerable groups of sculptures to show the poetic culture in the Tang Dynasty in China, the first and biggest single architecture modeled on the Tang style throughout China, the first theme park in China to cater to the five sense (vision, hearing, smell, touch and taste), the grandest fragrant project of the outdoors in the world, and the most spectacular water film on earth. Tang Paradise is praised as 'Garden of History', 'Garden of Spirit', 'Garden of Nature', 'Garden of Human Culture' and 'Garden of Art'.

The most special and amazing feast here is taste. The word 'taste' here does not refer to the delicious smell of food, but means that the whole Tang Paradise, like a fair lady, is full of aroma. Unbelievable, isn't it? But definitely true! You may wonder why. The secret is that there are incense burners here. Every few meters on both sides of the paths here, there is an incense burner which looks like a street lamp. It is only 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) tall with incense coils burning inside. It is this fragrance that makes the whole place seem like mysterious Xanadu. Thus wherever you walk, assuredly, you can be embraced by its faint redolence. 

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Qujiang Pool Park

Qujiang Pool Park, also called the “Qujiang Pool Relics Park, is located in southern suburbs of Xi'an Qujiang ruins scenic zone, north of Datang Furong Garden, south of Emperor Qin Mausoleum ruins, covering 1,500 acres. The park was designed by Zhang Jinqiu, a famous architect in China. She aimed to rebuild the royal garden of ancient China and made it a recreation area in Xian. Opened on July 1st, 2008, it has become a popular scenic spot by its natural beauty and abundant history. 

In history, Qujiang Pool was once the most famous scenic spot in Chang’an (the name of Xian in ancient China), a royal garden since the Qin Dynasty (221BC - 207BC). Later, in Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), Qujiang Pool has become a public recreation area. The Royal families, dignitaries and citizens usually went here.

Walking through the west gate of the park, the first thing you see is the pool, which covers an area of 500 mu (82 acres). Feeling the gentle breeze in the park, one can head south and there is the House in the Woods. There are nine houses named after the tunes to which Song poems are composed. In the houses, Shaanxi opera, leather silhouette shows and Fengxiang clay sculptures are presented. One of the buildings is a small museum, in which the discoveries of archeological excavations of Qujiang ancient ruins are exhibited. 

The Qujiang Pavilion is by the lake. From the pavilion you can see another scenic spot, the Jiangtandieshui. It is a tiny waterfall which naturally divides the pool into two parts. Go south from the Pavilion, two reed marshes are ahead, which you can walk through on a wooden landing stage.

At the end of the landing stage is the Yunge Pavilion, where you can rent a boat and take a visit on the lake. To the south is the Willow Dam, a long dam with willows on both sides. At the end of Willow Dam, the Yuejiang Tower is situated in the south of the park, where you get a birds-eye-view of the park and can have a rest. Going north from the Yuejiang Tower you see a house with small pavilions off its winding corridor: this is the House on the River. 

A small island was designed with some houses and galleries for tourists to have a rest. You can also go fishing there. You can reach the island from a wooden bridge on the east bank. The last scenic spot is the traditional Chinese style Changguan Teahouse. Have a cup of tea and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the river. You can really feel the history of Xian here.

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Green Dragon Temple

Located 3 kilometers (about 1.87 miles) southeast of Xian city, Green Dragon Temple is a famous Buddhist Temple from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). First built in 582 during the Sui dynasty (581 - 618 A.D.), the temple was originally named Lingan Temple (Temple of Inspiration) and later in 711 during the Tang dynasty renamed Qinglong Temple (Green Dragon Temple). The temple was destroyed in 1086 and the present one was the product of restoration.

Green Dragon Temple is the ancestor temple of Tantra sect of Japan Buddhism, and the holy temple for Japanese. In the early and middle 9th century, large quantities of Japanese monks were sent to China to study Buddhism scriptures. Among the well-known "eight monks entering the Tang", six once studied Buddhism in Green Dragon Temple, in which Monk Kukai was the most famous one. 

Kukai, the most learned of the six monks, made great progress in learning Buddhist sutras, Sanskrit, poems and Chinese calligraphy. After his return to Japan in 806, he advocated the building of a Vagra Temple (Vagra means Buddhist Warrior Attendant) and founded the Zhenyan Sect (the True Word Sect). He is highly honored by both Japanese and Chinese, and in 1982 Kukai Monument was constructed inside the Green Dragon Temple.

For uncertain reasons the Green Dragon Temple which had no fortune, like others in ancient China was destroyed. This was perhaps during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The present temple was reconstructed in 1963. Memorial halls for the earlier monks and exhibition halls with some excavations displayed are all built in the Tang architectural style.

Green Dragon Temple is a place where the cherry blossoms can be enjoyed. Every year during May and June, an endless stream, of tourists comes to appreciate its beauty.

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Guangren Lama Temple----- a Royal Tibetan Buddhist Monastery

Located in the north-west City Wall of Xian, Xian Guangren Lama Temple is the only Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Shaanxi Province. Guangren Lama Temple was built in 1705 as a Xanadu for the Grand Lama of the Northwest and Tibet when he passed through Shaanxi along the road to Beijing to meet with the Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is a nice combination of Han Culture of architecture and the culture of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also a witness to Tibetan and Han nationality's cultural communication and national solidification.

The main architecture, such as the Mahavira Hall, the Sutras Keeping Hall and the Bodhisattva Hall were brand new for they had been rebuilt in 1952. Besides, as it was cited as a National Key Buddhist Monastery by the State Council in 1983, Guangren Lame Temple was underwent extensive repairs again in 2006 and expanded to the present large scale, an area of 2.6 acres. The main architectural features fall into place from south to north as follows: the Mountain Gate, the Devajara Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the One Thousand Buddha Halls and the Sutra Keeping Hall. Besides, on either side of these main halls are some flanking halls, wing-rooms and cross-yards.

The original Mountain Gate had already been destroyed before the rebuild. Carved with beams and beautiful paintings, the new gate looks magnificent. As the entrance door is closed, visitors should enter the temple from the small eastern wicket. Inside the Mountain Gate, there is a Zhao Bi (a stone wall) engraved with the embossments of Buddha and the eighteen arhats. It is a grandiose brick-carved piece of architecture. Round across the Zhao Bi, you will see a tall hexagonal pavilion with an imperial stele of 'The Guangren Lama Temple Stele Erected under the Imperial Order' written by Emperor Kangxi who erected it. There are wells with stone rails on both sides of the stele.

Go out of the pavilion and you will come to the Devajara Hall in which a statue of Thousand-Hand Avalokitesvara on the lotus throne (the supreme one in Shaanxi Province) was placed there after the rebuild. It shimmers from gilding all over the body. The hall is surrounded by a lot of gilded rotational sutra barrels outside. At the back of the Devajara Hall, there is a courtyard in which lies an Eight Diagrams. It can be infused with 54 kilograms of kerosene at a time so that it is lit day and night. Thus it is called 'Ten Thousand Year Lamp'. Then you will see Mahavira Hall behind the lighthouse. Three Buddha statues are worshipped in the Mahavira Hall the Green Tara statue stands in the middle. On its left is the statue of Manjusri and on its right is the statue of Samantabhadra. It is said that all of them were passed down from Tang Dynasty.

Continue to the rear part, you will find the One Thousand Buddhas Hall which was built in 2006. The statue of the Tsong Khapa who founded Gelugpa (a sect of Tibetan Buddhism) is worshipped here. In front of this hall, there is a marble lotus which came down from the Emperor Qianlong period in the Qing Dynasty. Then the Sutras Keeping Hall will come into view when you go out of the One Thousand Buddhas Hall. The reproduction statue of the 12-year-old Buddha Sakyamuni is bestowed in the middle while the statue of Prince Wencheng (a prince who was ordered to marry a minority chieftain in Tang Dynasty) is on the left. 

There are many precious sutras in Sutras Keeping Hall, especially the Qing version of 'Tibetan Ganzhuer Sutra' in 108 volumes and the Ming versions of 'The Heart of Prajna Paraminta Sutra' in 6,600 volumes. There are flanking halls and wing-rooms on both sides of the Mahavira Hall and the Sutras Keeping Hall. The statues of Sykyamuni, Pharma-kaya and medicine's three seniors (three very important medicine men) lie in the east flanking hall while the four-arm Avalokitesvara, Maitreya Buddha and Saghirima are worshipped in the west flanking hall.

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Shaanxi Song & Dance Theater

Shaanxi Song and Dance Theater is a comprehensive theater restaurant established in 1998. The Theater not only provides a stage for the Shaanxi Provincial Song & Dance Troupe, but also offers traditional Chinese food to guests all around the world.

Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is performed on the spectacular stage by the artists every day. Shaanxi Song and Dance Theater provides all the guests with excellent services and enjoyment with the accommodation of 700 customers. In the recent years, the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is treasured as a national art. Such an exciting recreation of the cultural attractiveness of the Tang Dynasty will introduce you to an amazing world. You will be marvel at the feeling of being taken back to the days of the Tang (618 - 907).

With the Northwest Art Performance Group established in 1940 as its predecessor, it officially became a theater in 1963, got its present name in 1998, and was included in the Shaanxi Performing Arts Group Co. Ltd. in 2009. During its long history and development, the theater has reserved a professional performing team and a large number of excellent programs, including operas, dance dramas, vocal and instrumental music works.

Among all the programs, the Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Show is the most attractive and popular since its debut in 1983. The show reproduces the magnificent scenes of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, delighting the audience with fascinating ancient imperial court music and dance. The programs have been delicately designed by many Tang history experts, scholars and artists. The whole performance inherits the original song and dance of the Tang Dynasty, and fully shows the charm of traditional Chinese culture.

The major programs include the Huaqing Palace, White Ramie Cloth Costume Dance, Zither Solo ‘Pilgrim Feast’, Rainbow Skirt and the Feathered Coat Dance, Battling Dance of the King of Qin, Oriole Singing in Spring, Ta Ge Dance, Mask Dance, Qiuci Dance, Suona Solo ‘Jujube Harvest’, Maoyuan Drum Dance, Drum Music ‘Quarreling Ducks’ and ‘Tiger Grinding Teeth’, and Great Tang Ritual Dance.

The Dumpling Feast gathers the quintessence of Chinese Dumplings and is famous in Shaanxi. The chefs are able to produce a wide variety of dumplings, showing different styles, shapes and tastes. Dumplings served are pleasing to both the eye and the mind, and have a palatable taste. While enjoying the wonderful performance, you can have the delicious food including the famous local snacks, the dumpling banquet and the Tang style banquet.

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Xian Botanical Garden

Xi'an Botanical Garden of Shaanxi province was established in 1959. It is considered the principal national botanical garden in Northwest China. Aside from being an exhibition center, this institution serves a research facility and its goal is to assist in the conservation of plant life. The Garden covers 20 hectares(49 acres) and contains approximately 3000 plant species. The park's luxurious vegetation, beautiful garden landscapes, colorful natural scenery and rich variety of scientific specimens have contributed to the garden' s excellent reputation.  

The plants here are exhibited in the following nine special gardens: the Medical Plants Garden, the Aquatic Plants Garden, the Flowers Garden, the Bioenergy and Oil-bearing Plants Garden, the Aromatic Plants Garden, the Monocotyledonous Plants Area, the Dicotyledonous Plants Area, the Gymnosperm Plants Area and the Magnolia Garden. Besides, the Tropical and Subtropical Plant Greenhouses and Tsui Wah Garden are the must-see attractions for visitors.

Walking in the Aromatic Plants Garden, visitors will be greeted by the fragrance of flowers. There are various aromatic plants from home and abroad, including cloves, sweet osmanthus and roses. Visitors will also see many aromatic herbs, such as lavender, vanilla, mint and basil.

The Flowers Garden, the highlight here, should not be missed. It is a place where visitors can find more than 200 categories of tree-peony (the Chinese national flower), over one hundred species of herbaceous peony and another 70 kinds of herbaceous flowers. Over 200 categories of tulip are on exhibition there too. By 2010, the garden had held eighteen successful tulip exhibitions.

The Tropical and Subtropical Plant Greenhouses are homes to more than 400 categories of plants. And the two greenhouses are further divided into the high, middle and low temperature exhibition areas, which exhibit various plants from the South. Remarkably, as it is, there is a giant treelike plant in the greenhouse, named the Candied Date of Iraq, which was grown from a seed planted by a gardener 50 years ago. It has become the pride of this botanical garden and many visitors are excited to have their photos taken with it inthe background.

Tsui Wah Garden, which was built in 1990, is in Japanese style. The pavilions, white towers and stone-made lights combine with the lake harmoniously. The beautiful landscapes make the garden a good place to rest and feel the Nature.

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Ancient Cultural Street of Shuyuanmen

For expats or those who are visiting Xi’an and looking for a unique gift, Shu Yuan Men is the place to find it. Affectionately known as Old Street- is located near the South gate (Nan Men) inside the Wall of the city. Shuyuamen (Academy Gate) got its name because of the Guanzhong Academy at Nanmennei, which was the highest academy in Shaanxi during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and one of the four famous academies in China. It ranks first of the four major academies in Northwest China. Wander through a street of painters within Ming and Qing Dynasty Architecture. Its old stone slab streets lead to small alleys and courtyards filled with everything from calligraphy to sculpture. This is a place that you will want to stay and spend some time and the Bell and Drum towers and the Muslim Quarter are a walk or short taxi ride away.

Located on the eastern side of the southern gate of Xi'an, the 200-m street is in the architectural style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The street is paved with blue stone tablets; shops on the two sides are antique and elegant in style, in which four treasures of the study, metal and stone carvings, callligraphy, paintings, jade carvings and curiosities are available. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the area nearby Guanzhong Academy (of classical learning) was the cultural center of Xi'an. Guanzhong Academy is located on the street, on the relics of which Xi'an Normal Institute is was built up. The street has now become a tourist spot with a cultural atiosphere, including shopping, dinning, recreation and sighseeing. you may taste the true life of people in Xian and find the remains of an ever-refulgent dynasty. 

After visiting the Bell Tower, walk along the South Avenue until you see a traditional archway on the east side of the road. That is Shuyuanmen. Through the archway on which 'Shu Yuan Men' is carved, a green flagstone street extends, and you can see the 2-storey stores in ancient style along both sides and smell the aroma of Chinese ink. Most storekeepers, sitting leisurely in their stores, holding a little teapot or two small jade balls in their hands, never hustle.These stores deal mostly in the four treasures of study; curios, jade articles, gold and silver ornaments, calligraphies and paintings of celebrities, copybooks and handcrafted keepsakes.

There are authentic works by some celebrated artists, but you can always try bargaining for the one you want. You can find here paintings by Liu Wenxi, a Xian artist who drew the images on the RMB 100 note.

Shadow play figures, papercuts and face painting in the ancient style are typical folk handcrafts of Shaanxi Province that are colorful and appealing to tourists. Shadow play figures are made of animal skin, and were used for shadow play shows in ancient times. The technique of making it is so difficult that now fewer and fewer figures of shadow-play are for sale. The facial makeup painted by Zhang Xuanwu, a folk artist of Shaanxi Province, are favored among tourists. Zhang Xuanwu stated that he could paint more than 350 different faces, handed down from his ancestors.

Stalls outside the 2-storey stores are equally attractive. Along the street, Xun (an ancient egg-shaped wind instrument with eight holes) and jade articles are commonly seen. Walking in the area of Shuyuanmen cultural street, you may hear the sounds of the Xun and the bamboo flute played by storekeepers now and again to drum up trade, which is not quite a melody but more the symbol of Xian. Jade articles here are mostly from Lantian County of Xian, which is famous for the quality of jade from ancient China. If you are lucky enough, you will see the old folk artist giving a traditional Chinese painting or calligraphy presentation in front of the site of Guanzhong Shuyuan. Such fascinating work, perhaps you cannot help but buy one. At the east of the end of Shuyuanmen is the famous Forest of Stone Steles Museum .

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Daming Palace Site of Tang Dynasty

The Daming Palace ("Palace of Great Brilliance") was the imperial palace complex of the Tang Dynasty, located in its capital Chang'an, which now is called Xi’an. It served as the royal residence of the Tang emperors for more than 220 years. Today, it is designated as a national heritage site of China. It was included in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. It is located on high land in Longshou, in the northeast of Xi’an and covers a large area of 1.2 square miles. Originally, the Emperor Li Shimin built it as the summer palace for his father, the Emperor Li Yuan. The palace had nine gates. The whole layout was composed of two areas, Qian Chao where emperors held court, and Nei Ting used for living and recreation.

Qian Chao comprised three palaces: Hanyuan where grand ceremonies were held, Xuanzheng where emperors administered state affairs, and Zichen where ministers were presented to meet the emperor. Among them, Hanyuan Palace was the most famous and greatest.

Hanyuan Palace was the main palace, located about 656 yards from Danfeng Gate, the middle south gate of Daming Palace. In the Tang Dynasty, it was an important international exchange center. On every New Year's Day, the emperors would hold great ceremonies there, and welcome ambassadors from various countries and the surrounding minorities. This majestic building reflected the great Tang Dynasty's prosperous and broad culture and represented the highest architectural level of that time.

The north part of Daming Palace was the garden areas for living and recreation. Linde Palace, located in the northwest, was the biggest attached palace. It was the place where emperors held banquets and received ambassadors. Built in rammed-earth construction, the site measured 142 yards long and over 87 yards wide. Taiye Pond, also called Penglai Pond was an oval-shaped pond, covering an area of 1.6 hectare. As beautiful as a fairyland, the royal pond absorbed the essence of Tang's garden architecture.

The palace also had countless attractive and elegant attached buildings - pavilions, towers, and corridors. It is said that the Forbidden City was built according to the layout of Daming Palace. But to everyone's disappointment, this grand palace was burned out in the flames of war at the end of the Tang Dynasty. The cruel war left only the desolate and ruined site for us to imagine its glorious past.

Since 1950s, the archaeology work to Daming Palace has begun, and by far remarkable achievements have been gained through all experts' hard work. Besides the exploration in full scale, the experts made more efforts to unearth the sites of Hanyuan Palace, Linde Palace, Sanqing Palace, Xuanwu Gate and Chongquan Gate. In 1961, the State Council declared it as the national key cultural relic protection unit.The Daming Palace has been rebuilt and opened to the public on October 1st, 2010. About two thirds of the park is admitted for free; the other one third of the park is cultural relics preservation and exhibition area.

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Daxingshan Temple

Daxingshan Temple is located about 2.5 kilometers south from the Xi'an City. Originally built in the Jin Dynasty, more than 1600 years from present, this temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China and a birthplace of Chinese Tantric Buddhism (Vajrayana). It was named Zunshan Temple at that time. 

Buddhism was so popular in Chang'an, the predecessor of present Xi'an City, during the Sui and Tang Dynasties. Many Indian monks stayed there to translate the sutras and promulgate the Buddhist doctrines. Over time, the Daxingshan Temple became one of three temples particularly used for translating sutras. The other two are Ci'en Temple and Jianfu Temple. To some degree, it is the cradle of Chinese Buddhism also a memorialize place in the China-India cultural communication process.

With an area of 19 acres (8 hectares), the Daxingshan Temple has 243 halls and rooms for monks. In the temple, there are some kinds of trees with great value, beautiful flowers, famous paintings and stone tablets which record the restorations of the temple. Because of the wars through dynasties, it was destroyed many times and the present temple was rebuilt in 1955 and 1983. The surviving buildings mainly feature the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) style. They are neatly arranged in a row on a north-south axis.

When you enter the main entrance gate called Shanmen (a two-story building with a top of nine ridges), you will see a bell tower and a drum tower respectively on two sides. Along the north-south axis, you can see the Hall of Heavenly Kings in your first glance. In its front and behind are separately the Hall of Jingang and Main Hall. Further on, you can find Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) Hall. In the back yard is Sutras Collection Tower.

Hall of Heavenly Kings

Hall of Heavenly Kings is the most spectacular hall in the north-south axis. On it the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, also called the Guardians of the Four Quarters, stand on the east and west sides. Inside, smiling and bellied Maitreya is enshrined and behind it is a Ming Dynasty wood- carved Wei Tuo, the guardian angel of the Buddhist temples.

Main Hall

Built in the Ming Dynasty, the Main hall looks quite simple and solemn. When you come into the hall, the first thing to catch your eye is a group of five golden Buddha figures, which represent five directions (east, south, west, north and center). In its two sides are enshrined the statues of arhats in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In its front there are two stone tablets which are separately inscribed with Buddhist sutras and an historical record of the temple.

Site of the Zhuanlun Sutras Depository Hall

Situated between the Main Hall and the God of Mercy Hall, there was a Zhuanlun Sutras Depository Hall. Originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), it was a place for collecting Buddhist scriptures. 'Zhuanlun' means rolling wheel which symbolizes that the dharma never stops to turn around. Later, the hall was destroyed by the war. The site remains a 49-foot-wide (15-meter-wide) and 3-foot-high (1-meter-high) square earthen platform. More than two dozen big footstones still can be seen on the ground.

Guanyin Hall

The grand and imposing Guanyin Hall enshrines Guanyin, or 'Born of the Lotus', a deity known across all Asia as ‘the Goddess of Mercy’. In Chinese Buddhism, she is regarded as a personification of compassion, goodness and wisdom, and therefore is worshiped by Chinese people. The golden Guanyin is portrayed as thousand armed bodhisattva with a thousand eyes, which may greatly surprise you. The hall with carved beams and painted rafters is magnificent. In its front, a delicately-carved guardrail made of bluestones is also worthy of your appreciation.

Sutras Collection Tower

Masters often give lectures on Buddhist classics in Sutras Collection Tower which has a plaque on its gate. The plaque is inscribed with four Chinese characters: 'Jue Wu Zhong Sheng' (it means to enlighten all living beings) written by Guangxu Emperor in the Qing Dynasty. Inside, Vairocana is enshrined. The tower, together with the south God of Mercy Hall, the east Yufo Hall and Wofo Hall constitutes a courtyard where visitors are welcomed by towering and thick cypresses, and a more than 300-year-old Chinese wisteria that was planted near the end of the Ming Dynasty.

After visiting these attractions, visitors can enjoy delicious food in the temple. There is a vegetarian restaurant called Suxiangzhai which is the largest in Xian. Their dishes with a touch of meat are very worth tasting. What’s more, the restaurant is very quaint. Served with an excellent meal and good wine in such an elegant place, you’ll have a wonderful leisurely time.

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