Shisi Temple | A Millennium-Old Temple Hidden in the Mountains

This ancient temple, with a history of over 1500 years, is not very large in scale and has no Buddha statues inside, making it appear empty. However, the moment you step inside, the tranquility you feel makes you put down your camera and stop thinking, as if time has frozen at that moment. Here's the highlight: This attraction is pet-friendly! Shisi Temple is located at the southern end of Er Village in Daji Township, Jingning She Autonomous County, Zhejiang Province, China, at the foot of Baixiang Mountain. It is an ancient architectural complex of great historical and cultural value. Its origins can be traced back to the Shaoxing period of the Song Dynasty. Initially, it was the tomb-keeping hut of Mei Yuanxi, known as 'Shisi Courtyard.' In the 16th year of Zhizheng in the Yuan Dynasty (1356), the 19th generation descendant of the Mei family expanded it into 'Shisi Daochang,' officially establishing Shisi Temple. During the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, Shisi Courtyard was renamed to a temple, which is the current Shisi Temple. The temple continued to expand during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, forming its current scale. It is also an ancient architectural complex that integrates the architectural features of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The temple faces east and consists of many parts, including the mountain gate, bell tower, main hall, Sanqing Hall, Maxian Palace, and Mei Family Ancestral Hall. The entire complex covers an area of about 2700 square meters, with a building area of about 1250 square meters. In front of the temple stands the King of Cryptomeria, with a trunk diameter of 4.47 meters and a circumference of 13.4 meters. Originally, the tree was 47 meters high, but the main trunk was struck by lightning and broken, leaving it now at a height of only 28 meters. Experts have verified that the King of Cryptomeria is over 1500 years old, making it an extremely rare ancient tree both domestically and globally. The unique feature of the King of Cryptomeria is a door-like hole at its root, through which a person can easily pass. The interior of the tree hole is spacious enough to accommodate more than 10 people sitting around for a meal. Although the trunk is hollow, the branches on both sides are still full of vitality, showcasing its strong life force. 🎫: Yunzhong Daji Pass 40 RMB, free before 8:00 AM. Besides Shisi Temple, there are other attractions like Xuehuaji Waterfall to visit. 🚙: Highly recommended to drive yourself. It is about 50 kilometers from Jingning city center. Although it is a mountain road, the road conditions are good. Out-of-town visitors can take a high-speed train to Lishui and then rent a car or hire a car to get there. 🚌: Take the high-speed train to Lishui Station, then take a bus from Lishui to Jingning. There are many departures. After arriving in Jingning, take a bus to Daji. There are three buses daily, departing from Jingning at 8:10, 12:25, and 14:10, and from Daji at 6:40, 9:40, and 12:40. The fare is 11.5 RMB. 🏠: You can stay in Jingning city. The village where Shisi Temple is located is very beautiful. If conditions permit, you can stay in the village. Many locals have converted old houses into homestays. There are many places worth visiting around.