Attractions of North Hot Spring

North Hot Spring, the former North Hot Spring Temple, lies at the foot of Jinyun Mountain in Beibei District of Chongqing, with an area of 160 hectares. It is one of the first key scenic areas at the state level and the national AAAA tourism scenic area. In 2005, it was prized as "the best hot spring resort". The attractions in North Hot Spring are well-known throughout the whole China.

North Hot Spring Temple

The North Hot Spring Temple was originally built in Jing-Ping the first year of the Southern Dynasty (423). After the Dongyang County was established there, many people came to the temple to light firecrackers and burn incense in appreciation. As a result, many shrines and stone statues were established during that period. Later, the Emperor Wu in Northern Zhou Dynasty and Emperor Taizong in Tang Dynasty destroyed it twice. In the period of Emperor Zhenzong of Tang Dynasty, it was rebuilt. What's more, many Buddha statues were carved on the rocks. In the following dynasties, the temple was rebuilt many times and numerous poems and essays were successively inscribed on the rocks, leaving a great and precious relic for us.

Guansheng Palace

Guansheng Palace, also named Sansheng Palace, was the gate for the Hot Spring Temple in the ancient times. It was built to memorize the army general of Shu Kingdom - Guan Yu in the Three Kingdoms Period. In Qing Dynasty, it was expanded to a palace. In 1952, the statue of Guan Yu was renovated and was gilded.

Hall of Heavenly King

Hall of Heavenly King is for the use of guiding those who believe in Buddhism to the heaven to become the Buddhas. It was built in Ming-De the first year of the Ming Dynasty (1426). The Hall of Heavenly King is a in double roofs temple with strong and thick brackets. The area of the hall is about 170 square meters.

Kwan-yin Palace

Kwan-yin Palace, also named Tiewa (iron tiles) Palace or Tongwa (copper tiles) Palace, is one of the best ancient buildings in Chongqing with stone columns and iron tiles. It was firstly built in Ming Dynasty. In Qing Dynasty, it was repaired twice. The main hall is 242 square meters with 20 stone columns, iron tiles on the roof which is covered again with glazed tiles, looking very bright and beautiful.

Lotus Pond

The Lotus Pond in North Hot Spring scenic area was dug in 1931 to memorize Zhou Lianxi - the famous philosopher of Neo-Confucianism school in the Northern Song Dynasty. It is said that Zhou Lianxi was fond of lotus very much, and he once planted lotus in the North Hot Spring when he was teaching there in Jia-You the second year. In 1995, the pond was repaired completely. Near the Lotus Pond, there is burial ground in Song Dynasty. In front of the tombstone stands a tower called Panlong Tower.