Hongfu Temple is in Qianling
Park, which is situated in the northwest of Guiyang, Guizhou
Province. About 1.5 kilometers (about 0.93 mile) from downtown
area, and is considered to be the most famous Buddhist site in
the province.
'Hongfu' is Chinese for 'good fortune', which is an apt name
for the temple considering its history. It was in 1672 when Chisong,
a monk during the Ming Dynasty founded the temple. It had very
poor beginnings, being little more than a small hut, but Chisong
was determined that it should become a revered shrine and through
his persistence many local officials gave their support. In time
the temple was to become the most important Buddhist temple in
the area.
The temple complex is made up of a number of halls and the most
important of these are the Daxiongbaodian Hall, the Kwan-yin Hall
(the Guanyin Hall), and the Sutra Collection Pavilion. The architectural
style is magnificent and venerable. Over the past 300 years the
temple has undergone several rebuilds, repairs and enlargements
and is now a very well preserved example of its kind. As the largest
Buddhist temple in Guizhou Province it has been declared a key
cultural relic and has been open to the public since 1983.
In recent years many prominent people have visited the temple
and in accordance with Chinese tradition have left poetry in praise
of the inspiring architecture and its setting. A stroll through
the temple compound will enable you to enjoy its peaceful environment
while reflecting upon its splendid past.