Badachu Park with Eight Buddhist Temples, Beijing
Badachu Park (八大处公园) is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a fine park located in the Shijingshan District on the western outskirts of urban Beijing.
The park is 332 hectares in circumference, with the highest peak at 464 meters above sea level.
Badachu Park was approved in 1956 and famous for its well-preserved ancient architecture of eight Buddhist temples on three mountains. Locals and Beijing often call this place the “Eight Great Sites”.
Three Mountains:
Cuiwei Mountain (翠微山; Pingpo Mountain) (464 meters)
Qinglong Mountain (青龙山; Green Dragon) (438 meters)
Hutou Mountain (虎头山; Head of a Tiger) (387 meters)
In 1957, the “Eight Great Sites” was listed as the first batch of cultural relics protection sites in Beijing.
On December 1, 1986, Badachu Park was officially handed over to the Shijingshan District Administration.
Eight Temples:
First Temple
Chang’an Temple (长安寺) is the first temple in the eight. It was built in the 17th year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty (1504). After more than five hundred years, the ancient Chang’an Temple still retains its former architectural appearance.
Second Temple
Lingguang Temple (灵光寺) is the second temple in the eight and the most important temple in existence. It was first built during the Dali period of the Tang Dynasty (766-779) and was originally called “Longquan Temple”. Zhaoxian Pagoda (“画像千佛塔”) of the Liao Dynasty is located in the temple.
Third Temple
Sanshan Temple (三山庵) was founded in the third year of Jin Tiande (1151).
Fourth Temple
Dabei Temple (大悲寺), originally named Yinji Temple, was founded in the Song and Liao Dynasties. The temple is alone in the depths of the forest.
Fifth Temple
Longquan Temple (龙泉庵) is the fifth temple in the eight. There were two temples coexisting here.
The former was built during the Hongxi Period of the Ming Dynasty; the latter was built during the Shunzhi Period of the Qing Dynasty, and the two temples were combined into one during the Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty.
Sixth Temple
Xiangjie Temple (香界寺) was founded in the Tang Dynasty and was first called “Pingpo Dajue Temple”. It faces north and south. The entire temple has a large scale, covering an area of nearly twenty acres.
Seventh Temple
Baozhu Cave (宝珠洞) is the seventh temple in the eight, located on the top of Cuiwei Mountain, also called Pingpo Mountain.
It was founded in the 46th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1780). There is a wooden archway in front of the temple.
Eighth Temple
Zhengguo Temple (证果寺) is the eighth temple in the eight. It was first established during the Tianbao Period of the Tang Dynasty (also said to be built during the Renshou Period of the Sui Dynasty), and has been around for more than 1,200 years.
It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the capital.
The location of the temples:
Cuiwei Mountain has five temples:
Sanshan Temple (三山庵)
Dabei Temple (大悲寺)
Longquan Temple (龙泉庵)
Xiangjie Temple (香界寺)
Baozhu Cave (宝珠洞)
Hutou Mountain has two temples:
Chang’an Temple (长安寺)
Lingguang Temple (灵光寺)
Qinglong Mountain has eighth temple of the Eight Temples:
Zhengguo Temple (证果寺)
Video Source: Badachu Park with Eight Buddhist Temples, Beijing from taovid.com
