Where is Baotong Temple located?

Baotong Temple is a cultural tourist attraction.

Baotong Temple is located at the southern foot of Hongshan Mountain in Wuchang. It is a pure Buddhist temple in the past. It is the first Buddhist site in Sanchu and one of the four famous Buddhist jungles in Wuhan. Baotong Zen Temple has always been a royal temple and has been maintained and maintained by the royal family in various dynasties. Today's temple architecture clearly has a royal style. In 1983, it was designated by the State Council as a national key Buddhist temple in the Han area. In the same year, it was listed as a national key open temple of Han Buddhism determined by the State Council. In 1992, it was listed as a cultural relic protection unit in Hubei Province.

If the Yangtze River, Han River, East Lake, South Lake and scattered lakes are regarded as continuous waters, the urban land is like floating islands dotted on the water, and Wuhan is a city floating on the water. On this majestic surface of water, a central ridge stands out. From west to east, there are Meizi Mountain, Guishan, Snake Mountain, Hongshan, Luojia Mountain, Moshan, Yujiashan, etc. This series of ridges is like a giant dragon lying on the waves. Yujiashan, the highest peak in Wuhan city, is the leader, and in the moonlight The Meizi Mountain lying in the lake is the dragon's tail. This is the geographical dragon vein of Wuhan. Hongshan is located exactly on the waist of the dragon. Riding a dragon in the sky and taking advantage of the momentum, the location selection of Baotong Temple seems to reveal some mystery.

Baotong Zen Temple has a long history and is well-known at home and abroad, with a history of more than 1,600 years. It was first built during the Liu and Song Dynasties of the Southern Dynasties (420-479) and was originally named Dongshan Temple. During the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty (627-649), it was renamed Amituo Temple; during the Duanping period of the Southern Song Dynasty (1234-1236), it was renamed Chongning Wanshou Temple. It is the oldest existing temple in Wuhan. Pure Land Sect, Zen Sect, Tantric Sect, and many sects gathered together. Historically, it has been strongly supported by ten emperors including Tang Wenzong and six princes. It is the most exemplary royal temple. The temples and pavilions in the temple are built along the mountain, with cascading layers, appearing natural, simple and solemn, with a radius of 150 acres, the largest area. There are a collection of cultural relics, such as the Bell of the Song Dynasty, the Yuan Pagoda, the Xumizuo, and the Ming Dynasty Lion; there are many historical sites, including cliff carvings and the Eight Scenic Spots of Hongshan, which have the most Buddhist cultural connotations. The Wuchang Buddhist College founded by Master Taixu, a leading figure in modern Buddhism in my country, was reestablished in Baotong Temple in 1994 and is the most important Sangha education base in modern times.

In the second year of Baoli in the Tang Dynasty (826), monk Shanqing from Kaiyuan Temple in Hongzhou (now Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province) traveled to Dahong Mountain in Suizhou and built the "Lingfeng Temple". Before monk Shanqing passed away, he resolutely cut off his own feet and left them in the temple, indicating that he would work for the benefit of the villagers after ascending to heaven. These "Buddha's feet" have become the treasure of Lingfeng Temple passed down from generation to generation. For this reason, the emperor gave Shanqing the title of "Master of Mercy and Renen" and also wrote a plaque with the title "Youji Zen Temple" and gave it to Lingfeng Temple.

In the late Northern Song Dynasty, it was renamed "Chongning Wanshou Temple". At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Wanshou Temple was destroyed by war. In the 21st year of Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty (1485), it was renamed "Baotong Temple" and became one of the four major jungles in Wuhan. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Baotong Temple was destroyed again. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, Baotong Temple was renovated and expanded on a grand scale. It was destroyed by war in the last years of Xianfeng's reign. Most of the existing buildings are preserved from the late Qing Dynasty.

There are buildings in the temple such as the Free Life Pool, the Holy Monk Bridge, the Jieyin Hall, the East and West Halls, the Main Hall, the Patriarch Hall, and the Zen Hall. The entire temple building rises and falls with the mountain tops, appearing natural and layered. Behind the temple are the Hongshan Pagoda and the Dharma Realm Palace, as well as small pavilions, layers of stones, strange stones, secluded paths, Huayan Cave, Bailong Spring and other scenic spots. The light of the monument, the shadow of the pagoda, and the dense forests and lush flowers make people forget to leave.

Address: No. 549, Wuluo Road, Wuchang, Wuchang District, Wuhan City

Type: Temple

Tour time: 1-2 hours recommended

Tel : 027-87884539

Opening hours:

7:00-16:00

Ticket information:

Rack price: 10.0 yuan