Huating Temple

CHINA, Yunnan, Kunming

Huating means Magnificent Pavilion. It is located on the slope of Huatingshan (Magnificent Pavilion Mountain). It was originally the villa of Gao Zhisheng built in 1063 during the Northern Song dynasty. A temple was established here in 1320 during the Yuan dynasty. In 1323 the main shrine was built within the villa. Expansion work was carried out from 1450 to 1464 during the Ming dynasty. During the rule of Emperor Kangxi (reigned 1661–1722) and Emperor Xianfeng (1851–1861), it was twice destroyed in wartime and was rebuilt. The existing buildings are mostly reconstructions built in 1883 and or after 1912. It was listed as a key Buddhist temple in the Han region of China in 1983.
Facing east, the temple occupies 1.2 ha. Along the central axis are the Rain Flower Platform, Lotus Pond, Heavenly King Hall, Merit Pond, the Great Hero Hall and a three-story bell tower. The five-by-four bay Great Hero Hall has a double-eave hip-and-gable roof and is approximately 14 m high. The temple houses an exquisite gilt bronze Cundi Bodhisattva and two jade Buddhas.