Laoshan Huayan Scenic Area: Enjoy the mountain and sea wonders, visit the ancient Huayan Temple, and explore the Narayan Cave

When the spring flowers bloom, Yu Fan was fortunate to come to Qingdao to participate in the "Hi Shoot Laoshan" photography event. On the first day, I visited the Laoshan Jufeng Scenic Area, climbed to the top of Laoding at 1132.7 meters, and witnessed a performance of Laoshan Xuanzhen Neijiaquan; on the second day, I visited another important scenic area of Laoshan, Taiqing Palace, and saw the wall that the 'Laoshan Taoist' passed through, as well as the world's largest statue of Laozi; on the third day, I continued to explore Laoshan, visiting another important attraction - Huayan Temple. Laoshan is a famous Taoist mountain, and the Taiqing Palace that I visited the day before is a nationally renowned royal Taoist temple. Unexpectedly, not far from it, on Narayan Mountain, there is a large-scale Buddhist temple hidden - Huayan Temple. Its history can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, built by Huang Zongchang from Jimo during the Chongzhen era, originally named Huayan An, also known as Huayan Zen Monastery, but unfortunately, it was later destroyed in war. It was rebuilt at its current location by the monk Huang Tan in the early Qing Dynasty, and in 1931 it was renamed to its current name, Huayan Temple. Today's Huayan Temple is majestic and elegant, representing the pinnacle of ancient architectural art in Laoshan, with more than 130 rooms including halls, monk's quarters, and guest rooms, covering an area of about 2500 square meters. In addition, there are other attractions such as Narayan Cave, Hanging Moon Peak, Wanghai Tower, and Fish Drum Stone around Huayan Temple. Huayan Temple is nestled between mountains and the sea, and from the tower, you can see the vast sea. On both sides, there are clusters of peaks, and inside the temple, the pines and bamboos are lush. From the mountain gate to the ancient temple, the path is paved with stone, known as Huayan Road, with streams babbling beside it, birds singing and flowers fragrant, the forest lush, and the rocks rugged, providing a serene environment. Shortly after entering the scenic area, a pagoda courtyard comes into view, with a nine-level brick pagoda inside, which is the tomb pagoda of the first abbot monk Cizhan. Next to it, two old pines embrace the pagoda, and a small tree also grows on the top of the pagoda, forming the magical scenery of 'pines embracing the pagoda'. Beside the main pagoda, there are two smaller pagodas, which are the nirvana pagodas of the abbots Shanhe and Shanguan. Huayan Temple has many scenic spots worth visiting, such as the Love Tree, Good and Evil Stone, Golden List, and Listening to the Waves, etc. The staff took us around and told us the interesting stories and beautiful meanings behind each small attraction. For example, the Good and Evil Stone is a natural rock that looks like an ugly villain from one side and a smiling, kind old man from the other, which is truly incredible. We were particularly lucky that when we arrived, the cherry blossoms in front of Huayan Temple were in full bloom. Although it was a bit late and the leaves had grown a bit lush, it did not affect their beauty, attracting many tourists to stop and take photos. Occasionally, a breeze would blow, and a 'cherry blossom rain' would fall under the trees, which was very exciting. Behind Huayan Temple, there is a mysterious Narayan Cave, one of the more famous attractions around Huayan Temple. Leaving Huayan Temple and climbing up the mountain road, it is about 2 kilometers (about 40 minutes), with a broad view along the way, and the mountain and sea scenery is refreshing. Narayan Cave is a naturally formed cave, with a vertical hole above and a horizontal hole below, with the two holes connected in the middle, which is awe-inspiring. Although it is not possible to enter the cave for safety reasons, standing at the entrance of the cave, one can still feel the magical creation and craftsmanship of nature, and a sense of awe arises spontaneously. The Huayan Temple by the sea is not only a Buddhist temple but also a treasure trove of rich historical culture and natural beauty. Although this visit was a bit rushed, it was also very rewarding, giving me a deeper understanding of the charm of Laoshan. TIPS: Location: West Narayan Mountain, Fanlinghou Village, Wanggezhuang Town, Laoshan District, Qingdao City; Ticket price: 150 yuan (including Laoshan's Taiqing Palace, Yangkou, Huayan, Jufeng, and other scenic areas); Highlights: The ancient pagoda courtyard, San Sheng Hall, mountain and sea views, Narayan Cave, and other attractions are all worth a detailed visit; Recommended visiting time: Half a day.