Hongfu Temple

Hongfu Temple is a Buddhist monastery near the summit of Qianlingshan, a forested hill in Yunyan District, Guiyang, and is regarded as one of the most important Buddhist sites in Guizhou. It was founded in 1672, in the early Qing dynasty, by the monk Chimu, who is said to have come from Sichuan and chose the mountain for its seclusion. The temple was built up over the following decades into a large complex with halls on successive terraces, and it became the leading centre of Buddhism in the province. The compound includes the Mahavira Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Arhat Hall, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings and a sutra repository, arranged along the ascending slope. Buildings are in Qing timber-frame style with tiled roofs, carved beams and brick walls, set among old trees. The temple has suffered damage during several periods, including the 20th century, and has been repaired and reopened for worship, so its present buildings combine Qing structures with later restorations. Inside, visitors find statues of Buddhist deities, incense burners, inscribed stelae and calligraphy, and the monastery still hosts a resident community of monks and daily services. The site is organised as a working temple rather than a museum, so the experience is one of walking up terraces and observing ritual practice. Hongfu Temple lies within Qianlingshan Park, where a small entrance fee of around CNY 5 applies, and the approach involves a climb of several hundred steps or a longer path through the park, where macaques are common. The temple is known for its vegetarian restaurant, which serves monastery-style dishes. Views from the upper terraces extend over the Guiyang city centre, and the temple is a popular place to visit during religious festivals such as the Lunar New Year and the Buddha's birthday.