Hongluo Temple

CHINA, Beijing

Hongluo, or Red Conch, Temple was founded in 338 during the Eastern Jin dynasty. Most of the existing buildings date back to the middle of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). It was listed as a Municipal Cultural Heritage Site in 1990.
Facing south, the principal buildings of the temple are built upon a gradual slope and include the gateway, main temple gate, Heavenly King Hall, Great Hero Hall, Hall of Three Sages, and side halls.
The highly decorated gateway has three archways. The brick-built main temple gate has a single arched gateway with a hip-and-gable roof. A pair of stone lions guards the entrance.
The five-bay wide Great Hero Hall has a hip-and-gable roof. It is built on a stone platform with an open area at the front and is surrounded by stone balustrades. The hall houses statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, the Medicine Buddha and Amitabha Buddha with the Eighteen Arhats lined up along either side. Behind the statue of Sakyamuni, there is an image of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Murals decorate the east and west walls. A bronze bell dating back to 1626 during the Ming dynasty can be found at the east end. In front of the Great Hero Hall there is a large incense burner. The three-bay wide side halls have flush gable roofs.