Flourishing Flowers and Dreams of Chang'an (Part 5)—Xi'an · Wolong Chan Temple

Open the door to another time and space, over 1,800 years old, and encounter Wolong Chan Temple, a key Buddhist temple in the Han region. Compared to the bustling crowds of Guangren Temple, Wolong Chan Temple is truly a tranquil place. Look up to the clear sky; before your eyes are gentle cats who understand the peace of time; in your ears are the joyful chirping of birds; on the ground are lush flowers and plants; in the main hall are the solemn Buddhas... Every life in the temple is full of vigorous vitality. How can this not bring peace of mind? Wolong Chan Temple was founded during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. During the Sui Dynasty, it was called "Fuyin Chan Monastery." In the Tang Dynasty, it was also called "Guanyin Temple" because it housed a Guanyin statue painted by Wu Daozi. The original stele of Wu Daozi's Guanyin painting is in the Beilin Museum, and the one in the temple is a replica. During the Xian Tong and Qian Fu periods of Emperor Yi Zong and Emperor Xi Zong of Tang, stone Dharani Sutra pillars were erected in the temple. In the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, during the Boxer Rebellion, when Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu took refuge in Xi'an, Monk Deqing accompanied them to Wolong Temple to worship Buddha. Empress Dowager Cixi brought new prosperity to Wolong Temple. She donated one thousand taels of silver to renovate the temple halls and built a magnificent stone archway. Cixi also personally inscribed plaques with "Ciyun Beiri" and "Sancheng Dieyao" and bestowed them upon the temple, and inscribed the name "Imperially Established Shifang Wolong Chan Monastery" for the mountain gate. Emperor Guangxu inscribed a plaque with "Huanxidi" for the Hall of Heavenly Kings. These grand gestures added to the glory of Wolong Temple. At the same time, lamas and princes from Tibet and Mongolia traveled thousands of miles to send various genuine artifacts and Buddha statues, many of which were decreed to be placed in Wolong Temple for worship. The temple houses a large number of small Buddha statues. 📌TIPS： 📍Location: Search for "Wolong Chan Temple" on your navigation app. 💰Tickets: Free ⏰️Opening hours: 8:30—17:00 ❇️Visit duration: 1–2 hrs 💟Nearby: 💠Beilin Park (8-minute walk south, visit duration: 1–2 hrs), can be visited together. 💠Xi'an City Wall (entrance next to Beilin Park, tickets: ¥45/person), visit duration: 1–2 hrs 💠Yongning Gate (any entrance to the Xi'an City Wall can be used with one ticket, ¥45/person, visit duration: 1 hr) 💠Xiangzi Temple (free, visit duration: 0.5–1 hr) 💠Bell Tower (visit duration: 1 hr) 💠Drum Tower (visit duration: 1 hr) 💠Muslim Street (free, for strolling and eating, visit duration: 1–2 hrs). The main street of Muslim Street has Gao's Courtyard (Ming and Qing Dynasty brick and wood structure, tickets: ¥15/person, ¥14.91/person on Trip.com, shadow puppet shows are performed in the courtyard, combined tickets available, ¥29.95/person for tickets + shadow puppet show on Trip.com) 🟣️One-day tour route recommendation: (Start) Wolong Chan Temple—Beilin Park—Xi'an City Wall—Yongning Gate—Xiangzi Temple—Bell Tower—Drum Tower—Muslim Street (End)