Qinglong Temple

CHINA, Shanxi, Yuncheng

The temple was originally built in 662 during the Tang dynasty. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2001.
The temple faces south and consists of two courtyards. The main buildings along the central axis include the Heavenly King Hall, middle hall, and Great Hero Hall. Important buildings along the sides are the Hall of the Ten Kings, Arhat Hall, Sangharama Hall, and Dharma Protector Hall. The middle hall, Great Hero Hall, Sangharama Hall, and Dharma Protector Hall are original structures from the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). The rest of the buildings date back to either the Ming (1368–1644) or Qing (1644–1911) dynasty.
The three-bay by four-rafter Great Hero Hall has a single-eave overhanging gable roof. The roof frame inside is exposed. Murals dating back to the end of the Yuan dynasty can be found on the east and west walls.
The three-bay by six-rafter middle hall also has a single-eave overhanging gable roof. Inside there are murals depicting figures in the Water and Land Dharma Service dating back to 1289 during the Yuan dynasty. A total of 125.2 sq m of wall space are dedicated to these murals.
While some of the structures retain characteristics from the Yuan dynasty, the overall layout and design is reminiscent of the local Jinnan (southwestern Shanxi) style.