xi's moments
Home | City Tour

Dragons nestle in the mountains outside Beijing

By Michael Rhys Card | China Daily | Updated: 2022-09-15 08:02

The central bell structure at Baipu Temple.[Photo provided by Michael Rhys Card/China Daily]

Beijing is home to a wealth of ancient temples and historical sites, which is part of the reason I was so drawn to the city. After living here for over 3 years, with minimal travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I can safely say that I have visited and photographed a large majority of the temples in the capital and one thing that I have come to realize is that they all have a number of visual and architectural similarities. This isn't a complaint, as the red walls and glazed tiles that adorn the bulk of these locations in the city never lose their charm. However, after recently learning about a temple with a strikingly different style just outside the city limits, I jumped at the opportunity to visit it.

Baipu Temple, or White Waterfall Temple, so named because of two waterfalls at the site, was first built during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and is located deep in the mountains in Beijing's Mentougou district. The temple has a history of more than 900 years, though very little of the original structure now remains.

The drive to the temple, though picturesque, was somewhat perilous, with the only access being a narrow road that passes through the mountains. On the final approach to Baipu, the cliffs on either side of the road are adorned with dozens of golden Buddha statues, secured to the rock face at almost impossible angles. Arriving at the car park of the complex, I was greeted by an imposing figure, baring his fangs and a variety of weapons in his six arms. This statue, one of the many Buddhist figures at the temple, is unlike anything I have seen in any of the other temples I have visited.

This figure in particular, whose name I wasn't able to discover, is a popular point of pilgrimage for many drivers, especially those who ride motorbikes. Apparently, this god will bless drivers and give them safe passage. Although I'm not sure how powerful such blessings are as, later in the day, we witnessed a small collision between some of the aforementioned motorcyclists and a car leaving the temple.

1 2 Next   >>|
Global Edition
BACK TO THE TOP
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349