Shanhua Monastery

Shanhua Temple (Shanhua Si, also called South Temple or Nan Temple) is a Buddhist temple located in southern part of Datong. The temple was firstly built during Kaiyuan period of Tang dynasty, but almost destroyed during Liao dynasty and rebuilt in Jin dynasty. The current temple still has the Tangy architecture style.

Shanhua Temple covering an area of nearly 14,000 square meters, and the three main buildings are The Gate, the Hall of Three Saints and Daxiong Bao Dian.

The Gate is rebuilt during 12th century of Jin Dynasty, it is a hall that contains status of four heavenly kings; in the hall of Three Saints, and there are three statues of Sakyamuni, Bodhisattva Puxian and Bodhisattva Wenshu--the Three Saints of Huayan in Buddhism. In Daxxiong Baodian, the most important part of an Buddhist temple, there are five gold-coated status of Tathagata Buddha, called Wu Fang Fo, which are original statues from the Jin Dynasty.

The whole temple is arranged on a north-south axis and two pavilions located to the east and west of the three Saints Hall. The temple is peaceful and quite even in downtown area, and it would worth an hour’s visit when you are in Datong.

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