Dingguang Temple of Qingyun Mountain nestles at the foot of Qingyun Mountain in the northwest of Heyuan. First built in the 4th year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1631), it is a renowned ancient Buddhist temple in the Dongjiang River region.

According to an inscribed stele: May the compassionate ferry deliver all beings, and the Dharma rain spread far and wide. The solemn Buddhist shrine is enveloped in radiant auspicious mist. Amid winding clouds lies a fairy terrace; willows sway in the purple bamboo grove. Springs trickle among rocks and pine-crowned peaks, while temple eaves stretch gracefully. The lotus throne of the Jade Lake is ringed by twelve balustrades, where sweet dewdrops nourish the Bodhi tree. The nine-tiered halls stand grandly, hosting enduring incense worship through millennia. Monks expound the profound Zen teachings. This inscription is made upon the completion of the temple, to mark the widespread blessing of the Dharma rain. Erected in the second lunar month of the Chongzhen reign.

Perched halfway up the mountain amid lush ancient trees, Dingguang Temple boasts picturesque scenery and the gentle gurgle of mountain springs. Approved and reopened as a religious activity site in 1985, the temple underwent large-scale expansions. It now covers an area of over 20 hectares, with architecture embodying the finest artistic essence of the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Mahavira Hall stands majestically, topped with a golden horizontal plaque inscribed with its name by Zhao Puchu, former President of the Buddhist Association of China. A stone statue of the Buddha Tathagata, more than ten meters tall, sits in the main hall, flanked by imposing statues of the Eighteen Arhats.

Surrounding the Mahavira Hall are the Avalokitesvara Pavilion, Scripture Lecture Hall, Patriarch Hall, Tripitaka Repository, Fortune Pavilion and Zen Courtyard, all laid out in a well-proportioned and ingenious design. Complementing the complex are the mountain gate, side bridges, releasing pond, Heavenly King Hall, stone archway and curved stone arch bridges, further enhancing the scenic charm. Nestled against mountains and rivers are cozy and elegant guest houses and vegetarian dining halls for visitors to rest and enjoy vegetarian meals.

The temple preserves a wealth of cultural relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including stele inscriptions, stone carvings and wooden sculptures. It also houses calligraphy works by Zhao Puchu, namely the inscriptions for Mahavira Hall and Dinghui Lecture Hall.

Within the Qingyun Mountain scenic area lie other legendary natural attractions: Lion Mountain, Elephant Mountain, Lord Yan’s Cave and Huokou Mountain