Wukong battles at Chongsheng Temple, Jin Yong's masterful Tianlong Temple

"Black Myth: Wukong" quickly became a global gaming sensation upon its release, capturing the attention of millions. In the game, players take on the role of the "Chosen One," embarking on a perilous journey to the West. During the game's development, the creative team visited 36 locations across China for inspiration, including Chongsheng Temple in Dali, Yunnan. A hidden level in the second chapter of the game, a fierce battle in the Kingdom of Shari, is set against the backdrop of the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. As a result, "Black Myth: Wukong" has also popularized Chongsheng Temple in Dali. Chongsheng Temple is said to have been founded at the beginning of the Nanzhao Kingdom, though the exact date is unknown. According to Xu Xiake's travel notes, "The temple is located below the tenth peak and was built during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, named Chongsheng," suggesting it was established around 730 AD. It became the political and religious center of the Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms. Among the 22 emperors of the Dali Kingdom, nine became monks at Chongsheng Temple. The famous martial arts novelist Jin Yong's "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" is set against the backdrop of Tianlong Temple. Jin Yong wrote in the preface, "This novel, titled 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,' tells the story of the Dali Kingdom in Yunnan during the Northern Song Dynasty." The Tianlong Temple in the story is Chongsheng Temple, a gathering place for martial arts masters, where the entanglements of the martial world are complex and unresolved. Chongsheng Temple was once renowned for its five great treasures, including the Three Pagodas, the Nanzhao Great Bell, the Rain Copper Guanyin Statue, the Three Saints Golden Statue, and the "Buddha Capital" plaque. However, four of these treasures were destroyed by war or natural disasters. The most severe destruction occurred during the wars of the Xianfeng and Tongzhi periods of the Qing Dynasty, when the entire Chongsheng Temple was burned down, leaving only the Three Pagodas standing, witnessing the vicissitudes of time. Chongsheng Temple was rebuilt in the 1990s on an unprecedented scale. The Three Pagodas were built during the reign of the tenth ruler of Nanzhao, Fengyou, from the tenth year of Baohua to the first year of Tianqi, between 834 and 840 AD, during the reign of Emperor Wenzong of the Tang Dynasty. The main pagoda, also known as the Qianxun Pagoda, was built first, followed by the smaller northern and southern pagodas. The pagodas were named after the temple, hence the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple. The distance between the Qianxun Pagoda and the smaller northern and southern pagodas is 70 meters, forming a tripod-like arrangement. Despite over a thousand years of weathering, the Three Pagodas still stand tall. In 1961, they were designated as one of the first national key cultural relics protection units. The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are a landmark of Dali and a destination for many long-distance travelers. In the twelfth year of the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty, in March 1639, Xu Xiake visited Chongsheng Temple in Dali. In his "Diary of Travels in Yunnan 27," he wrote, "The three pagodas stand in front of the temple, with the central pagoda being the tallest, square in shape, and consisting of twelve tiers, hence the name Three Pagodas. Tall pines surround the pagodas. Entering from the western gate, there is a bell tower facing the Three Pagodas, presenting a majestic scene; however, the walls are already crumbling, and the eaves tiles are half fallen, in a precarious state. Inside the tower is a huge bell, over a zhang in diameter and a chi thick, cast during the Nanzhao period, with its sound heard for eighty li." When Xu Xiake visited Chongsheng Temple, all five great treasures were still present. The appearance of the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple in "Black Myth: Wukong" has reignited people's nostalgia for the scenery of Dali. Chongsheng Temple is backed by the evergreen Cangshan Mountain and faces the vast Erhai Lake. "A river encircles Cangshan, and Cangshan embraces the ancient city," describes Dali City. The wind of Xiaguan, the flowers of Shangguan, the snow of Cangshan, and the moon of Erhai are collectively known as the Four Wonders of Dali, hence Dali is also known as the "City of Wind, Flowers, Snow, and Moon." Erhai Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Yunnan Province after Dianchi Lake, named "Erhai" because it resembles an ear. Erhai Lake starts from Eryuan in the north, where Yang Liping's hometown is located. Visitors to Dali usually visit Yang Liping's villa on Yujidao Island by Erhai Lake. Built at a cost of 35 million yuan, the villa is surrounded by the lake on three sides, resembling a paradise on earth, and is known as the "First Village of Cang'er." The southern "Sun Palace" was converted into the Yang Liping Art Hotel after its completion, while the northern "Moon Palace" is Yang Liping's private residence and is not open to the public. In 2018, due to environmental remediation of Erhai Lake, Yang Liping's villa was temporarily sealed off as an illegal construction. Starting from September 1, 2019, the "Sun Palace" ceased to operate as an accommodation facility and was opened to the public as an art exhibition space, commonly known as the Yang Liping Sun Palace Art Space. It can be visited by free appointment, but appointments are hard to come by. However, if you book an afternoon tea or coffee, you can enter and admire its beauty.