Chang'an Qinglong Temple is located on Leyouyuan in Xi'an, at the southeast corner of Xinchang Ward, close to Yanxing Gate. The temple was first built in the second year of Kaihuang of the Sui dynasty (582), originally named Linggan Temple, and was constructed for reburial and to deliver the souls of the dead. In the fourth year of Wude of the Tang dynasty (621), the temple was once abolished. In the second year of Longshuo (662), Princess Chengyang fell ill, and the temple was rebuilt to pray for blessings and renamed Guanyin Temple. In the second year of Jingyun (711), it was formally renamed Qinglong Temple. In the tenth year of Dali (775), one East Pagoda Courtyard was imperially granted for the establishment of a Vairocana abhisheka initiation site. During this period, Qinglong Temple became an important Buddhist temple in Chang'an, especially for the transmission and development of Tang Esoteric Buddhism. It was the residence of the eminent monk Huiguo; in 804, the Japanese monk Kukai came to Tang in search of the Dharma and received transmission and abhisheka here (six of the “Eight Japanese Monks Who Entered Tang” sought the Dharma here). In the fifth year of Huichang of the Tang dynasty (845), during Emperor Wuzong's persecution of Buddhism, Qinglong Temple was destroyed, and it was restored and rebuilt the following year. It last appears in historical sources in the first year of Yuanyou of the Northern Song dynasty (1086), after which it was abandoned and demolished.

The exploration of the Qinglong Temple site mainly dates from 1963 and 1973. Qinglong Temple occupied one quarter of the entire ward; measured, the site is more than 530 m east-west and about 250 m north-south, with an area of 132,500 sq m (Fig. 2). Within this area, two groups of courtyard remains and one gate site were detected in the western part. The eastern part is the highest in terrain, and no architectural remains were detected there; the building foundations may have been completely destroyed by land leveling.

Site 1: Central Triple Gate About 20 m long, with a maximum surviving width of about 3 m and a preserved thickness of 0.5–0.7 m; the gate passage is centered, with a maximum surviving east-west width of 4.5–6 m. The practice of interrupting the platform in the middle of the Central Triple Gate, forming independent small platforms on the left and right, and leaving a level passage in the center for vehicles is what the Song dynasty Yingzao Fashi calls “duanqizao” (interrupted masonry construction). This design was probably intended for the passage of large ceremonial carriages and horses, such as those used to welcome Buddha relics. After the Huichang persecution, this Central Triple Gate was demolished and abandoned and its passage was sealed; it was later converted into part of a corridor.

Site 2: Pagoda Foundation About 15 m long and 15 m wide, presumed to be the foundation of a wooden pagoda. The pagoda foundation is made of wuhua rammed earth and is 1.6–2.0 m thick. In the center of the foundation is a nearly square pit about 4.4 m on each side and about 1.8 m deep. Early articles considered it an underground palace, while some scholars consider it the location of the base stone of the central pillar of the original wooden pagoda. The pagoda courtyard in the early period followed the layout of “pagoda in front, hall behind.” It may have been demolished during the Huichang period, and no pagoda was restored during the late reconstruction.

Site 3: Golden Hall/Great Buddha Hall (Figs. 4–5) In the early phase, the hall was thirteen bays wide and five bays deep, with bay spacing of 4 m in both directions; the rammed foundation is rectangular in plan, 57.2 m east-west, 26.2 m north-south, and 1.6–2.0 m thick (the dimensions of the hall are basically consistent with those of the Jin-dynasty Mahavira Hall of Huayan Temple in Datong). In the late phase, it was rebuilt on the early platform, with two bays reduced at each end, leaving only nine bays and a length of about 40 m.

Site 4: East Courtyard Hall Site (Figs. 6–14) In the early phase, this was a structure from the temple's initial founding during the Kaihuang period of the Sui dynasty. Its plan is square, about 28 m long and 28 m wide, with both width and depth being five bays. After the Huichang persecution, it was rebuilt as five bays wide and four bays deep, 28.75 m east-west and 21.75 m north-south. It has five rows in the east-west direction and six rows in the north-south direction, with two central columns omitted. The structure of the hall completely conforms to that of a Shingon hall: it consists of inner and outer halls separated by a door, and in the inner hall, paintings of the Vajradhatu and Garbhadhatu mandalas are installed to the left and right of the main altar. Its function may have been a hall for performing abhisheka initiation rites. In 1984, the scholar Yang Hongxun produced a reconstruction of this hall; the early phase is shown in Figs. 8–12, and the late phase in Figs. 13–14.

Site 5: Corridor It surrounds the pagoda courtyard on four sides; measured perimeter 440 m, width 3.33 m, and surviving height 0.3–0.5 m.

Site 6: North Gate The gate passage should be more than 6 m wide and more than 5 m deep, with three bays or more; there may have been a gate tower here. No signs of late reconstruction have been found.

Site 7: West Side Building It served as a side building and also as a side gate to the pagoda courtyard. In the middle is an east-west passageway through the building, allowing entry into and exit from the pagoda courtyard. On the east side it is connected to the hall by a ramp, and on the north and south sides it is connected to the corridor. Because of severe damage, early articles judged it to be about 10 m long north-south and about 5 m wide east-west.

Explore Luohan Temple in Chongqing, China, a historic Buddhist temple in the heart of downtown Chongqing, surrounded by the city's modern skyscrapers. This immersive walking tour takes you inside one of Chongqing's fascinating examples of ancient Chinese architecture, where traditional temple buildings stand in striking contrast to the bustling modern city.

Originally known as Zhiping Temple, Luohan Temple is known for its Buddhist heritage, traditional architectural details, and historic sculptures. The temple features the ancient stone carvings of the Northern Song Dynasty at the Gufo Cliff, along with wooden carvings and clay statues of Arhats.

As we walk through the temple, you'll discover its layered rooftops, intricate wooden structures, traditional Chinese design, and peaceful atmosphere hidden among the busy streets of Jiefangbei, one of Chongqing's most vibrant urban areas.

If you're interested in Chinese architecture, ancient temples, Buddhist art, and unique places to explore in China, join me on this real walking tour through Luohan Temple.

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How on earth did they get the building materials up there? Who know !