Huayan Temple, a treasure of Liao and Jin architecture!

Huayan Temple is located on the west side of the ancient city of Datong, and is a treasure of China's Liao and Jin architecture. However, a large part of Huayan Temple was newly built during the renovation in 2008, and only the Mahavira Hall of the Upper Huayan Temple and the Tripitaka Hall of the Lower Huayan Temple remain from the Liao and Jin periods. 🗿 Mahavira Hall Located on a platform more than four meters high at the back of the temple, it is nine bays wide and five bays deep with ten rafters, covering a total area of 1476.75 square meters. It is deservedly the largest single-eave hip-and-gable roof wooden structure in China. Standing on the platform, it is impossible to see the whole structure at a glance. 🏯 Tripitaka Hall This hall, where the temple's scriptures are kept, was built in the seventh year of the Liao Chongxi era and is one of the two largest existing wooden Buddhist halls in China. Most of the murals inside the hall are still in the original Liao style. The hall contains thirty-one statues of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Vajras, all originally sculpted during the Liao period, including a standing Bodhisattva with clasped hands and a smiling face. 🏗️ Huayan Pagoda The pagoda is surrounded by water, with a pure copper crypt underneath. Do not miss this crypt, more than 500 square meters and over 100 tons of pure copper, which is extremely impressive. Inside the crypt, there are also relics of the Ming Dynasty monk Huiming. The Huayan Pagoda is also the second tallest all-wood mortise-and-tenon structure pagoda in the country, after the Wooden Pagoda of Ying County. 🎫 Ticket Price: Peak season 50RMB, off-season 40RMB 🔛 Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00 (Entry stops at 17:30) ⏰ Recommended Visiting Time: 2h