Recommendation for a lesser-known temple in Xingtai | Kaiyuan Temple

Kaiyuan Temple in Xingtai, also known as Da Kaiyuan Temple and Dong Da Temple, was a royal temple during the Tang and Yuan dynasties. Kaiyuan Temple is the ancestral home of Da Kaiyuan Sect and Cao Dong Sect, the place where the second ancestor of Zen Buddhism passed on the bowl and the place where the seventh ancestor of Zen Buddhism, Master Shen Hui, stayed. Its history can be traced back to the Later Zhao period. It was named 'Pan Ai Temple' during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui, 'Da Yun Temple' by Empress Wu Zetian of Tang, and 'Kaiyuan Temple' by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. Emperor Kublai Khan of Yuan visited twice and named it 'Da Kaiyuan Temple'. Kaiyuan Temple in Xingtai is one of the most well-preserved famous temples of the Tang Dynasty in China. It was a royal temple during the Tang and Yuan dynasties and is also one of the 'Sound of the Bell in the Wild Temple', one of the ancient Xingtai landscapes. Among them, the Tang Sixteen-sided Sutra Pagoda is the only one in China. Kaiyuan Temple is divided into two parts. The ancient Kaiyuan Temple is not currently open to the public. The newly renovated Da Kaiyuan Temple is divided into three functional areas: 'Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha'. It is magnificent and intricately structured. More importantly, many precious rubbings of inscriptions are displayed in the temple. In the courtyard, you can also see a large number of ancient inscriptions, statues, sutra pagodas and sutras, and there are many old photos and text introductions of Xingtai's ancient buildings, which can help you understand the history of Xingtai more deeply.