[2025 Lu'an Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhaoqing Temple (Updated Apr)

Zhaoqing Temple in Lu'an is located in Songang Town, Jin'an District. It was built during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty and was one of the four royal Zhaoqing Temples built by the order of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin. It is said that after Tang Sanzang returned from his pilgrimage, he came here to give lectures. Therefore, the temple has the earliest Tang Sanzang Hall among all temples in China, with a statue of Tang Sanzang in the middle. The architectural style of Zhaoqing Temple integrates Buddhist cultural elements from the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, making it a well-preserved ancient royal temple. The temple is home to many cultural relics and historical sites, including a copper statue of Ji Gong, a Tang stone pillar top, a Tang well, Shenzhong Weir, and a Southern Song lotus stone. In addition, there is a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree in the temple, with lush branches and leaves. There is also the only mummified Buddha statue in Lu'an. It is worth a visit. You can get three free incense sticks at the entrance.

The Lu'an Zhaoqing Temple Ancestral Tower is located in Zhaoqing Village, Sungang Town, Jin'an District, Lu'an City, Anhui Province. It was built in 2008 to commemorate the 19th ancestor, Master Xichi. The ancestral tower is a Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda architectural style, facing south from the north, a regular hexagonal seven-story pavilion-style hollow brick-wood structure, composed of the tower base, tower body, and tower top. The brick-built eaves are upturned and the edges and corners are brown. The total height of the tower is 23 meters and the diameter is 4 meters. The tower is equipped with a wooden ladder, which can directly reach the top of the tower. The remains of Master Xichi are placed on the 5th floor. Ticket Information: Free Opening Hours: All day Transportation: Take bus No. 113, 222, 225, 226 in Lu'an City.

There are four ancient Zhaqing Temples in ancient China, namely Lu'an Zhaqing Temple, Hangzhou Zhaqing Temple, Beijing Zhaqing Temple, and Luoyang Zhaqing Temple. Lu'an Zhaqing Temple is located in Zhaqing Village, Sungang Town, Jin'an District, Lu'an City, Anhui Province. It was built during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. It was a royal temple built by Emperor Taizong of Tang Li Shimin. It was built by the founding hero of the Tang Dynasty, Wei Chi Jingde. The Tang Sanzang Master Xuanzang personally preached. The ancient temple integrates the architectural style of Buddhist temples in various dynasties and generations, and is a rare well-preserved ancient royal orthodox temple in the world. In 1956, Zhaqing Temple was announced by the People's Government of Anhui Province as the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in Anhui Province. In 1984, Zhaqing Temple was announced by the People's Government of Anhui Province as a key temple in the province. Ticket information: Free Opening hours: All day Transportation guide: You can take bus No. 113, 222, 225, 226 in Lu'an City.

Zhaoqing Temple: It was founded during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan period and is one of the royal 'Four Great Zhaoqings' built by the order of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin. It was supervised by Tang dynasty founding general Yu Chijie, and the eminent monk Xuanzang of the Tang dynasty once visited to expound the scriptures and preach. The original plaque was inscribed by the Tang dynasty calligrapher Ouyang Xun, and it has been rewritten by Zhao Puchu, the former president of the Buddhist Association of China. Zhaoqing Temple is located at the top of the watershed between the Yangtze River and the Huai River. Over 1300 years, it has undergone many tribulations and has been rebuilt nine times. The temple retains its original Tang dynasty style, incorporating architectural features from Buddhist temples of various dynasties, making it a rare and well-preserved ancient temple sanctioned by the emperor.