Day 3 of self-driving tour in Sanya, Hainan: Nanshan Temple

Nanshan Temple is located in the Nanshan Cultural Zone, 40 kilometers west of Sanya City, Hainan Province. It is a group of Tang Dynasty-style Buddhist temples facing the sea. Here is a detailed introduction: History • Name origin: The temple is named after Nanshan (South Mountain) because it is located in Sanya. It is also named after Jianzhen, a famous Tang Dynasty monk who played an important role in cultural exchange between China and Japan. Jianzhen's sect is called "Nanshan Sect," hence the name "Nanshan Temple." • Background of construction: After Hainan Province was established, there was a lack of well-known cultural and religious sites and places for cultural exchange. In 1993, Ruan Chongwu, then secretary of the Hainan Provincial Committee, received a letter from Master Yongshou. After investigation and discussion, the State Administration for Religious Affairs and the Hainan Provincial People's Government approved the construction of Nanshan Temple in Sanya, Hainan. Architectural features • Overall layout: The temple is centered on the central axis, with two sides extending in depth. The central axis layout is adopted inside the mountain gate, and the entire Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Park outside the mountain gate is in harmony with the natural environment, forming a unique "Buddhist garden." • Design style: The temple cleverly utilizes the surrounding environment, terrain, and legends to create a "sea and sky Buddhist kingdom" atmosphere. The design boldly innovates on the basis of inheriting the traditional Buddhist statue art, and incorporates various elements representing the spirit of the times. Main attractions • Main Hall of the Three Treasures: The hall enshrines the Three Treasures, with the Buddha Shakyamuni in the center, Amitabha Buddha on the right, and Bhaisajyaguru Buddha on the left. In front of the left is Kasyapa, and in front of the right is Ananda. • Two-in-One Gate: This is a six-story building in the Tang Dynasty style. In the square, there is a "Yuan-tong Jing-zhuang," and around it, there are sculptures of the "Eight Dragons." This embodies the Buddhist concept of "two-in-one." • Eight Treasures Lotus Pond: This pond covers an area of 2,200 square meters and contains various coral stones, seaweed, underwater lights, and glass products. In front of the curved bridge, there is a stone carving of "Ear Root Yuan-tong," and next to it, there is a Guanyin Pavilion, where a gold and jade Guanyin statue worth about 190 million yuan is placed. • Hall of the Thirty-three Guanyins: This is a Buddhist cultural site that showcases Guanyin culture, wealth god culture, and folk culture. It covers an area of 3,300 square meters and contains 33 statues of Guanyin.