Xingtai Dayuan Temple

⛰[Attraction Guide] 📍Address: Middle section of Kaiyuan North Road, Xiangdu District, Xingtai City, Hebei Province 🚗Transportation: Take bus No. 1, 11 Branch, 24, 38, 50, 109 Branch, or 601 in Xingtai city. 🕙Opening hours: 8:30–16:00 💰Ticket price: Free 🌟Highlights: Xingtai Kaiyuan Temple Kaiyuan Temple, Xingtai City, Hebei Province Xingtai Kaiyuan Temple, also known as Dayuan Temple or Dongda Temple, was first built during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. It served as a royal temple during the Tang and Yuan dynasties and was one of the centers of Buddhism in northern China, a renowned temple throughout Chinese history. Xingtai Kaiyuan Temple is the ancestral home of the Dayuan School and the Caodong School, the place where the second patriarch of Zen Buddhism passed on the Dharma, and the place where the seventh patriarch, Master Shenhui, resided. Its history can be traced back to the Later Zhao period. During the reign of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty, it was called "Fan'ai Temple." Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty bestowed the name "Dayun Temple." Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty gave it the name Kaiyuan Temple. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, visited twice and bestowed the name Dayuan Temple. During the Qing Dynasty, "Spring Outing at the Ancient Temple" was one of the twelve scenic spots of Shunde Prefecture. During the Republic of China, "Bell Sounds from the Country Temple" was one of the eight scenic spots of ancient Xingtai. Xingtai Kaiyuan Temple is one of the relatively well-preserved Tang Dynasty temples in China. The temple preserves a large number of ancient inscriptions, statues, scripture pillars, and scriptures, including the Tang sixteen-sided scripture pillar, the only one of its kind in China. The stone carvings of Kaiyuan Temple record in detail the Buddhist origins of Kaiyuan Temple and the historical changes in the Central Plains region, serving as important materials for studying ancient politics, economy, history, and Buddhist culture. In May 2006, Xingtai Kaiyuan Temple was listed by the State Council as a sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units. 📌Tips: Parking is available.