Photo Gallery

Qiyuan Temple (built mid 16th century onward)

Qiyuansi, or Tending Garden Monastery, is the largest of the Jiuhuashan temples. Originally built in the mid 16th century during the reign of emperor Jiajing of the Ming dynasty, the current architecture is more influenced by the renovations that occurred during the Qing dynasty. The temple holds the only known copies of Buddhist sutras printed by imperial order in that era.

Visitors entering the temple will first see the Bier Palace Hall (Linggong Dian) that houses a statue of the Buddha flanked by two warrior attendants. Next is the Buddhist Deities Hall (Tianwang Dian) where four statues guard the four heavenly directions. A few steps away is the Grand Hall (Daxiong Baodian) that houses a Buddhist triad on lotus flowers. The other halls contain numerous statues of arhats and Buddhas.

On the last day of September on the lunar calendar there is an annual temple fair in honor of Kim Kiao Kak, the founder of the temple.