[2025 Qingshen Attraction] Travel Guide for Qingshen Zhongyan Temple (Updated Apr)

Qingshen County in Sichuan Province is very small, but Su Dongpo had a special affection for Qingshen. Not only did he come to Zhongyan Temple many times to enjoy the scenery, he also came here for a date with his wife. Romanticism to the fullest. For fans of Su Dongpo, Zhongyan Temple is a must-visit. [Cute] Inside the Zhongyan Temple Scenic Area, there is a scenic spot called the "Fish Calling Pond". Legend has it that Su Dongpo once played with fish here. Next to the pool, there are statues of Su Dongpo and his wife Wang Fu. [TeaDrinker] Zhongyan Temple was first founded in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and was highlighted in the ancient Zhongyan of the Tang and Song dynasties. It was a famous Buddhist holy place in the early days. It is said to be the dojo of the fifth Arhat of the Sixteen Arhats, Nojuna. Its Buddhist teachings are so profound that it was as famous as Mount Emei in ancient times. Su Dongpo studied here when he was young. The Dongpo Study Building still exists. In the Song Dynasty, Fan Chengda, Lu You and others came here. Fan Chengda praised it as "the best place for forests and springs in Western Sichuan", and Lu You praised it as "the best mountain in southern Sichuan". Later, it was called "the place where Su Dongpo first fell in love". 【Important Landscape】 "Thousand Buddhas Corridor". The rock walls are densely covered with carved Buddha statues, with more than 2,000 statues of various sizes, complete and intact, most of which are from the Tang and Song dynasties. The Dharma Realm is solemn, with different expressions and a simple style. Opposite the rock, there are towering peaks, thousands of rocks competing for beauty, and the scenery and cultural relics complement each other. "The fairy bed is in the sky." Located at the highest and most dangerous cliff of the Thousand Buddha Corridor, there is a stone bed in the cave, 2 meters high from the top of the cave. There are concave traces of a person sleeping on the bed surface, and it is known as the "Immortal Bed". Cimu Peak. It is the main peak of Zhongyan, located halfway up the mountain. It used to be the site of Zhong Temple. The temple is magnificent and solemn. There are two streams on the left and right sides of the peak, which are like two dragons surrounding it and merge at the foot of the peak. There is a small stone bridge on it named "Shuanglong Bridge". "Danthi Danlou". On the west wall of the ravine where the left peak of Cimu is winding, a staircase was carved along the rock and named "Danti". 🚗 Navigate and search for "Zhongyan Cultural Relics Scenic Area".

| A niche hiking route featuring both natural beauty and cultural significance. I first learned about Zhongyan Temple from the saying "Visit Zhongyan first, then Emei" when I was at Mount Emei. I initially thought Zhongyan Temple was just a temple, but it turned out to be an entire forested mountain, perfect for a day hike from Chengdu. · Zhongyan Temple is located on the banks of the Min River and is divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Temples. Known for its beautiful mountains and waters, serene forests and valleys, and rich history, it is praised as the "Best Mountain in Southern Sichuan" and the "Best Place for Springs and Forests in Western Sichuan." This is where Su Dongpo studied and experienced his first love in his youth. It is also a Buddhist holy site with abundant natural landscapes and cultural relics. · The hiking route at Zhongyan Temple focuses on natural scenery and cultural relics. The entire loop is about 6 km, suitable for casual hikers: Lower Temple - Huanyu Pool - Up and Down Hill Tiger - Thousand Buddha Corridor - Reclining Buddha Grotto - Yuquan Liushang - Middle Temple - Platform Subduing Tiger - Lingshi Bamboo Shoots - Upper Temple Ruins - Back Mountain Return Route - Huanyu Pool - Lower Temple · 📸Points of interest along the way: ✅Lower Temple: The starting point of the hike. The temple is newly built and doesn't have many highlights, but here you can overlook the beautiful Min River and enjoy the magnificent scenery where the mountains and rivers meet. ✅Huanyu Pool: One of the most famous attractions in Zhongyan Temple. Legend has it that Su Dongpo and Wang Fu met because of "Huanyu Pool." There is a stone inscription of "Huanyu Pool" written by Su Dongpo himself by the pool. Below Huanyu Pool, there is a relatively rare statue of Guanyin carrying a basket, dressed in peasant clothing. ✅Thousand Buddha Corridor: From here is the core area of the nationally protected Zhongyan Temple cliff carvings. Along the way, you can see cliff carvings of Buddha statues from the Tang and Song dynasties, totaling 48 niches and 2,492 statues. The exquisite craftsmanship showcases the splendor of ancient Buddhist art. ✅Reclining Buddha Grotto: The only undamaged cliff carving in Zhongyan Temple. ✅Xianchuang Lingxu (Fairy Bed Hanging in the Void): A branch of the hiking route. You need to climb over a hundred steep steps to reach the precarious cliffs. ✅Yuquan Liu Bei (Jade Spring Flowing Cup): Famous for its "Tai Chi Pool." Huang Tingjian from the Song Dynasty once drew water here to make tea and left a stone inscription of "Yuquan." ✅Middle Temple: Also known as Jingde Chan Monastery. Now, apart from the archway, only one main hall remains, which houses a statue of Thousand-Hand Guanyin. ✅Platform Subduing Tiger: Legend says that Su Shi once persuaded a monk here. It mainly consists of inscriptions, especially the two large characters "Zhongyan" inscribed by Li Shi of Gaoling during the Southern Song Dynasty's Zhenghe period. ✅Lingshi Bamboo Shoots: Three stone peaks stand tall, resembling bamboo shoots. There used to be cliff carvings here, but now only some inscriptions remain. ✅Upper Temple: Only ruins remain. The inscription of Zhongyan Temple on the cliff next to it is quite famous. The newly built Dongpo Reading Tower next to it is said to be where Su Dongpo studied in his youth. ✅Back Mountain Return Route: Descend from the small path next to the Upper Temple ruins, which is the return route. This section is very similar to the桫椤Valley in Leshan. Walk along the stream in the canyon, and you can see waterfalls and桫椤trees along the way. It is considered the section with the best natural scenery in Zhongyan Temple and should be very comfortable in summer. · ⚠️Important Notes 🚶🏻‍♂️Hiking duration: The entire journey takes about 3-4 hours and is suitable for casual hikers. 👟Equipment recommendations: Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring mosquito repellent (there are many mosquitoes in the scenic area), and bring enough drinking water. ⏰Best time to visit: Suitable for all seasons. Spring and autumn have mild weather and the best scenery. You can also see fireflies around the Qingming Festival. 🎫Ticket information: Tickets are 27 yuan/person. Students and seniors can enjoy half-price discounts. Children under 1.4 meters, people with disabilities, active military personnel, etc., are free of charge.

While Zhongyan Temple is now often touted as the place where Su Dongpo studied and experienced his first love, the true historical gems of this area are the nationally protected cliff carvings scattered throughout the mountains, rather than just the Fish Calling Pond associated with Su Dongpo and Wang Fu's romance. · As a representative of early Buddhist stone carvings in Sichuan Province, the Zhongyan Temple cliff carvings originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished during the Tang and Song Dynasties, and continued into the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Zhongyan Temple currently preserves 48 niches with 2,492 statues, along with 119 inscriptions by famous figures such as Su Dongpo, Fan Chengda, Huang Shangu, and Lu You from the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. These are distributed on the cliffs between the Upper, Middle, and Lower Temples. · On my second visit to Zhongyan Temple, I spent half a day exploring all the nationally protected cliff carving sites scattered throughout the mountains. There are numerous sites, some off the main path, requiring a climb up a long branch trail. Overall, the exploration is relatively easy, but unfortunately, most of the carvings have suffered severe damage to their heads and details due to natural weathering and human destruction. · ✅Fish Calling Pond: Passing through the newly renovated Lower Temple, you'll soon see the Fish Calling Pond. This is the first area with a concentration of cliff carvings. The most important are two sites: one is the three scripture pillars on the left wall of the Fish Calling Pond, carved with the Tang Dynasty scripture *Buddha's Ushnisha Victorious Dharani Sutra* and an inscription dating back to the first year of Xian Tong in the Tang Dynasty (860). This indicates that the Zhongyan Temple cliff carvings were established no later than the Tang Dynasty, possibly even earlier. The second site is below and to the right of the Fish Calling Pond, where three Guanyin statues are preserved. One of these depicts Guanyin dressed as a peasant woman carrying a basket, a relatively rare representation and strong evidence of Qingshen's long history of bamboo weaving. · ✅Thousand Buddha Corridor: Located between the Lower and Middle Temples, the Thousand Buddha Corridor marks the beginning of the core area of Zhongyan Temple's cliff carvings. The corridor is quite impressive, with several large-scale grottoes. The Buddha statues mostly date from the Tang and Song Dynasties. Sadly, most of the heads were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Some have been restored in recent years, but the proportions still appear unbalanced. · ✅Reclining Buddha Grotto: This is the only undamaged cliff carving at Zhongyan Temple. This is understandable, as even now, there's no accessible path to this cliffside niche. It can only be viewed from below, making it difficult to see clearly. A Buddha flanked by two Bodhisattvas can be vaguely discerned, surrounded by over a hundred smaller Buddha figures. · ✅Immortal's Bed Hanging in the Void: This is a branch route requiring a climb up over a hundred steep steps to reach a precarious cliff face. Legend has it that the Tang Dynasty monk "Endless Chan Master" often meditated here, eventually achieving enlightenment and passing away in this spot, hence the name "Immortal's Bed." There are three niches of carvings on the Immortal's Bed cliff, and while there are no particularly large statues, the sheer number is astonishing: one niche has 476 statues, another has 1,200, and the third features an ornate Pure Land scene. · ✅Jade Spring Cave: This is the largest grotto in the entire mountain, with a waterfall cascading down and the Jade Spring flowing into two pools: the Tai Chi and Double Dragon Pools. Inside the cave, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are combined, and it is said to be the birthplace of the Zhongyan Taoist site. However, it appears that there aren't many original carvings, with inscriptions being more prominent. Particularly noteworthy is a vivid bas-relief of figures in an ox cart, titled "Common People Seeking Buddha to Eliminate Disasters," also known as "City Patrol." · ✅Platform Subduing the Tiger: Located between the Middle and Upper Temples, this site mainly features inscriptions, most notably the two large characters "Zhongyan" inscribed by Li Shi of Gaoling during the Zhenghe period of the Southern Song Dynasty. · ✅Spiritual Rock Bamboo Shoots: Although only ruins remain of the Upper Temple, three Spiritual Rock peaks rise beside them. There were likely cliff carvings here as well, but now only some inscriptions remain, a beautiful blend of human and natural artistry. This marks the end of the Zhongyan Temple cliff carvings trail. · 🏠Name | Zhongyan Temple Cliff Carvings 🎫Tickets | 25 yuan ⛳Address | Ruifeng Town, Qingshen County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province 🚗Transportation | Navigate to "Zhongyan Temple" by car.

| Must-visit Attractions & Food List for 48 Hours! 🚗 The right way to start your Meishan trip: Whether you take a high-speed train from Chengdu to Meishan East Station 🚅 or drive for 1.5 hours 🚗, the charming scenery of Meishan is waiting for you to explore! 📍 Recommended Routes: 1⃣ Start from the Three-Su Temple, stroll through the music fountain of Dongpo Urban Wetland Park, and finally find delicious food at Dawang Mountain or China Pickle City. 2⃣ Or, visit Liujiang Ancient Town first, then climb Wawu Mountain, enjoy the beautiful scenery of Yanu Lake, and enjoy the tranquility of Emei Banshan · Qiliping. 🌟 Must-visit Attractions: - **Three-Su Temple**: Explore the home of the Three Sus of the Northern Song Dynasty and feel the ancient charm. Ticket: CNY 40. - **Meishan Water Street**: Free water performance, night boat tour, and experience the prosperity of the Song Dynasty. - **Wawu Mountain**: Meet rhododendron waterfalls and wild animals with a ticket of CNY 148. - **Liujiang Ancient Town**: No ticket is required. Enjoy the history of the stilted buildings and century-old streets of Little Jiangnan. - **Yuanjing Tower**: Enjoy the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains for free. - **Dongpo Urban Wetland Park**: The charm of the music fountain at night, free of charge. - **Banshan Qiliping**: Forest oxygen bar, self-paid items. - **Caoyutan**: Known as "Little Cambodia", it is a blend of natural scenery and Buddhist culture. - **Pengzu Mountain**: Climb the Longevity Ladder, ticket: CNY 30, and experience a cultural journey. - **Zhongyan Temple Scenic Area**: Free visit and feel the tranquility of the Buddhist temple in southern Sichuan. 🍽 Must-try Food: Dongpo Elbow, Chicken Tofu, Dongpo Pickles, and other authentic delicacies will awaken your taste buds. 🍖 🏨 Recommended Hotels: Stay in the Meishan Water Street area for easy access to food and night views; or enjoy a different kind of tranquility in Qiliping and Liujiang Ancient Town.

There is a hidden corner with few people around Meishan... 🌲In terms of scenery, there are lush forests and bamboos, dense tree ferns, small bridges and flowing water, ancient trees, and a high concentration of negative oxygen ions. ⛩️In terms of culture, this is where Su Shi was born, studied, and fell in love with his first wife, Wang Fu. The ancient temple ruins, cliff carvings, and Thousand Buddha Corridor were praised by Lu You as the "No. 1 mountain in southern Sichuan." "Ten years of life and death are boundless, I don't think about it, but I can't forget it" is Su Shi's eternal song in memory of Wang Fu. A great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, avoid the smog, and hike and breathe oxygen. 🔍Self-driving navigation: Zhongyan Temple Scenic Area, Qingshen County, Meishan City 🅿️Parking fee: CNY 10 ✅Recommended hiking route ⚠️The entire journey is 5–6 km round trip, divided into two routes: uphill and downhill. When you reach the Fish Calling Pool, turn left to go uphill and go straight to go downhill. The two routes can be interchanged, but the road conditions are different. Compared with the downhill path, the uphill path is more tiring. All the attractions are on the uphill path and are very concentrated. You can choose to go uphill on the downhill path, which is easier, and then visit the attractions on the way down, or follow the traditional route. ✅Introduction to some check-in points: 🔥The white Buddha statue between the two huge rocks is very photogenic. I was attracted by this photo. 🔥The long ancient road and the simple vermilion archway have a strong sense of history. 🔥There are various cliff carvings along the way, and the large and small cliff Buddha statues are worthy of being called the "Little Dunhuang." 🔥The dense tree ferns and rich vegetation make it a great place to breathe oxygen. Key points❗❗There are many attractions in the scenic area, such as Linjiang Lower Temple, Dongpo Fish Calling, Platform Tiger Taming, Buddha Cave Cloud Piercing, Thousand Buddha Corridor, Reclining Buddha Grotto, Stone Carving Forest, Lingyan Stalagmite, Cuiwei Overlook, Qingxi Stream Path, etc. Every attraction is worth seeing. ✅Ticket price list: 🎫Ticket: CNY 27 🅿️Parking: CNY 10 📍The whole journey is less than 6 km. Recommended play time: 2–3 hours. You can go to Hanyang Ancient Town or Qingshen County for a meal.

[RedHeart] Zhongyan Temple consists of the upper, middle and lower temples. It was founded in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and was highlighted in the Tang and Song dynasties. In the early days, it was a famous Buddhist holy place. It is said to be the dojo of the fifth Arhat, Nojuna, one of the Sixteen Arhats. Its Buddhist teachings are so great that it was as famous as Mount Emei in ancient times. "The scenery of the rocks and ravines is no less than that of Mount Eshan." There is a saying that "visit Zhongyan first and then visit Mount Eshan." [RedHeart] 📍Address: Zhongyan Temple Scenic Area, Qingshen County, Meishan 🎫Tickets: 27 yuan (discounts available online, half price for children) 🚉Transportation: 🚗Self-driving: Navigate to Qingshen Zhongyan Temple (1.5 hours from Chengdu South Gate) 🅿️Parking fee: 10 yuan ✅Hiking: ⏳Hiking time: less than 6 kilometers, 3-4 hours for sightseeing and taking photos 🗺️Hiking route: Enter from Zhongyan Temple and you will see the hiking entrance Recommended hiking route for Zhongyan Temple♻️ Fish Calling Pond➡️Meier Slope➡️Niutou Cave➡️Thousand Buddha Corridor➡️Immortal Bed➡️Platform Fuhu➡️Three Peaks of Bamboo Shoots➡️Down the mountain to the clear stream (there are so many crabs here🦀, basically don’t catch them but just pick them up😃 The mountain is not high, but it is quiet and beautiful, with small bridges, flowing water and towering ancient trees. Along the way, there are red sandstone roads, ancient temple ruins, cliff carvings, and the Thousand Buddha Gallery... Li Bai left Sichuan with a sword and wrote "Song of the Moon on Mount Emei" here; Su Dongpo studied here and left a story that will be passed down through the ages. Ten years of life and death are so vague, I can’t forget it even if I don’t think about it. This is Su Shi’s eternal masterpiece in remembrance of Wang Fu... Lu You called it "the first mountain in southern Sichuan." Reason for recommendation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ✅There is almost no sun exposure during the whole journey, and the vegetation coverage is very high ✅Small group, go directly to Qingxijian Road to catch crabs, you can catch crabs for several kilometers 🦀Net fish 🐟Net loach ✅The scenic area has a large area of ​​Alsophila, a high vegetation coverage rate, and many small animals such as stick insects, mantises, hedgehogs, etc.

Zhongyan Temple was founded in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties. It was an early famous Buddhist holy site. It is located in Zhongyan Village, Ruifeng Town, Qingshen County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province, on the east bank of the Minjiang River. It is divided into three temples: upper, middle, and lower, collectively known as Zhongyan Temple. Su Dongpo once studied here when he was young. The existing Dongpo Study is a relic of this time. During the Song Dynasty, Fan Chengda and Lu You visited here. Fan Chengda praised it as "the best place in Xichuan Linquan", and Lu You praised it as "the first mountain in Chuanan". Su Dongpo studied in Zhongyan. From the time he was named Rui Wang, Su Dongpo and his daughter Wang Fu called fish to marry, forming the famous scenic spot "Long Qiu Call Fish". The scenic spot is being renovated. Walking along the red sandstone path to the cliff carvings is worth the trip. However, it is still some distance from Dongpo's study. It was too hot, and the passing monks said that the road conditions were not very good, so they returned the same way.

📍Zhongyan Temple, Ruifeng Town, Qingshen County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province 🎫Tickets: 23 RMB/person, Student Ticket: 13 RMB/person 🟦️Transportation High-speed rail🚄: Chengdu South/East Station → Qingshen Station (around 40 RMB) Bus🚌: Qingshen Line 1A/Qingshen Line 14A/Qingshen Line 14B → Qingshen Line 11 (4 RMB, you can search for 'City Pass' on the mini-program for bus routes, and remember to tell the driver your destination so they will stop) 🟦️Route The entire mountain is a loop, so there's no need to worry about getting lost or retracing your steps! The whole journey takes about three hours, the path is quite flat and suitable for all ages. Most of the route is shaded by trees, so the intensity is not high. The area is not commercialized at all, and you won't find any stalls selling water or snacks along the way. 🟦️There are also few people on weekends. It's safer to hike with friends. 💡Tips - Wear comfortable shoes, as there will be a lot of walking and climbing. - Bring sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself. - Remember to bring enough water and snacks!

Why not invite your friends for a two-day and one-night cultural walking tour if you don't want to travel far? Let's be joyful children in the wilderness Chasing, laughing, and sharing along the way You can also avoid the crowds and feel the cultural heritage Why not enjoy it? ⛳ Address: Qing Shen Zhong Yan Temple 🎫 Ticket: 27 for adults, free for children ⛰️: About 5km loop hike, very suitable for the whole family ✅ Recommended reasons: ✔️ Historical culture: Zhong Yan has been a place of spiritual beauty and cultural essence since ancient times. Su Dongpo, when young, studied here, and the existing Dongpo Reading Pavilion is a testament to that. During the Song Dynasty, famous figures like Fan Chengda and Lu You visited, praising it as the 'best spring and forest in Western Sichuan' and as 'the number one mountain in southern Sichuan', later known as 'the place of Su Dongpo's first love'. ✔️ The vegetation is lush and the negative oxygen ion content is very high, suitable for spring and summer. ✔️ The streams are now full, and it's possible to catch crabs and small fish and shrimp ✔️ The overall route is quiet and peaceful, not crowded, with moderate slopes, very suitable for children and the elderly ✅ Recommended itinerary: Day1️⃣ Morning visit to Hanyang Ancient Town, lunch with the world's number one chicken, afternoon hike to Zhong Yan Temple, stay overnight in Meishan or Hanyang Day2️⃣ Morning visit to the Three Su Temple, afternoon at Dongpo Urban Wetland Park, evening meal on Shuijie (Water Street) to enjoy the night view before heading home