CLOUD TEMPLE AZURE

Certainly the most beautiful temple of the park of scented hills (Xiangshan), the Biyun Si was established in 1366 under the Yuan.

History

It was a nuns' convent that was enlarged in the sixteenth century by wealthy eunuchs who wanted to make their mausoleum. The abortion project. This ensemble literally hung on the slope of the hill, runs its buildings on six levels in the middle of an exuberant nature. The temple became a popular place of stay of the Emperors Ming and their concubines, many constructions were added under Emperor Qianlong. To access it, we cross a kind of street lined with small houses, then the entrance doors break the wall of the enclosure and there is still to cross a bridge that encircles an empty gap at the bottom of which is seen in spite of the vegetation that hides, a carefully paved soil.

Visit

There, we are at the foot of the temple, and marches of marches lead to the hall of the two celestial guards (Tian Wang) in which we admire the great statues more than 4 meters tall, remarkable by their expressions of ferocity. Let us not forget that their purpose was to protect the temple of evil spirits by frightening them. Then, a little higher at the bottom of the courtyard, in which you will notice the two traditional towers of the Cloche and the Drum (a little damaged), lies the room of the Buddha of the future where a beautiful statue of Maitreya of the Ming era comes. At the bottom of a second courtyard, in which two pillars engraved with Buddhist texts have to be noted, they will be penalized in a room heavily influenced by the Indian style, resembling a cave with a large statue of Buddha surrounded by stucco painted stucco characters. Although they are called Ming times, the painting they offer is very kitsch! On the other hand, we have seen the same style in the Five Pusas Hall: a profusion of painted stuc statues, demons and exotic characters. The ceiling and the frame are decorated as well as the rest. Then, in the background of a third, even more impressive courtyard, the hall of the Five Hundred Arhats, where more than 508 statues of gold, of almost human size, are grouped. Then we arrive in the room erected in memory of Sun Yat Sen, kind of museum with a rich and interesting iconography, and numerous documents about the history of the Revolution. It was in this room that Sun Yat's body was installed from 1925 to 1929, waiting to leave for the Nankin mausoleum. It is said that the coffin containing Sun Yat Sen's remains, offered by the Russians, would have been annoying after beer. By continuing westward, we arrive at the foot of the pagoda in the Diamond Throne, which is the central building of the temple and around which stupas were erected. Two steep staircases allow access to the entrance. By the way, do not miss to admire the low-quality bas-reliefs, which will allow you to take your breath again, before climbing into the penny another narrow staircase and uneven stone marches, to arrive on the top terrace of the pagoda. You will be greeted at the end of your ascension by the smiling face of Buddha, carved on a bas-relief. There are another four smaller pagodas as well as stupas. You must admire the magnificent view of the temple and dominate the whole temple, but above all take the time to admire each low relief, one to one. These are genuine works of art, and in excellent condition. Before leaving the temple, make an incursion on the side, where there is a source flowing from the rock. Passing along the temple foundations, you will notice the roots of the trees hanging in the vacuum looking for water below.