Longquan Temple

CHINA, Inner Mongolia, Chifeng

Located below the Lion Cliff, which is 3 km northwest of Jinshan town in Chifeng, the temple was built during the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). Further construction and renovation were carried out in 1287 and 1341. It was listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 2006.
The south-facing temple is built on a slope and has a compact layout with the buildings arranged irregularly. The existing buildings include the main temple gate, Heavenly King Hall, Great Hero Hall, and the east and west side halls. The temple consists of three courtyards. The main temple gate, located in the center of the front wall, is cuboid with a single arched gateway. It has a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with the eaves turning upwards at the corners. The Heavenly King Hall has a flush gable roof. A stone lion sits behind the hall. It was carved on the spot from a natural rock and the lion, with its head raised, looks formidable. The Great Hero Hall is three bays wide and has a veranda surrounding the exterior of the building. It has a single eave hip-and-gable roof and its main ridge is decorated with carvings of dragons and phoenixes.
The temple houses numerous steles, including four that record the repairs to the temple. There is a mythical dragon-headed tortoise-mounted stele, dating back to 1341, dedicated to Vinaya Master Zhiran. Another stele, dated to 1917, records the history of the temple. These steles constitute important research sources on religious culture and local history.