Datong Huayan Temple

Huayan Temple, located in the southwest corner of the ancient city of Datong, was founded in the seventh year of the Chongxi era of the Liao Dynasty (1038 AD) and named after the Buddhist scripture 'Avatamsaka Sutra'. The temple also served as an imperial temple for the Liao Dynasty, holding a prominent status. Huayan Temple is one of the earliest and most well-preserved Liao-Jin era temple complexes in China, covering an area of 66,000 square meters. The highlights of Huayan Temple include: 1. The Tripitaka Hall: Also known as the Sutra Tower, built in the seventh year of the Chongxi era of the Liao Dynasty, it is one of the two largest existing wooden Buddhist halls in China. Most of the murals inside the hall are still in the original Liao Dynasty style. The hall houses thirty-one statues including Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Vajras, originally sculpted during the Liao Dynasty. Among them stands a Bodhisattva with clasped hands and a smiling face, a rare depiction in an era where smiling with teeth was uncommon. Be sure not to miss it when you visit. 2. Puguangming Hall: Recommended for the mural that encircles the hall, depicting the 'Fifty-three Visits of Sudhana', a story about Sudhana who, under the guidance of Manjusri Bodhisattva, visits fifty-three teachers and ultimately attains true enlightenment. The mural is exquisitely detailed, offering an immersive experience. 3. Daxiong Baodian: The Daxiong Baodian is the largest and most spacious single-eave wooden Buddhist hall in ancient China. The hall preserves the Ming Dynasty's Five Tathagatas and twenty heavenly beings' colored sculptures. 4. Huayan Pagoda: The second-largest pure wooden mortise and tenon structure square pagoda in the country, with a total height of 43.5 meters. Standing on the pagoda, one can overlook the ancient cityscape and the distant mountain ranges. The most unmissable part of the pagoda is the largest copper underground palace in the country, made of 100 tons of pure copper, housing more than 1,000 Buddha statues and a Buddha relic. Do not miss it.