Yushan Chan Temple is situated in Nanzhu Village, Nanshan Township, 15 kilometres away from the county seat. It is an officially registered and open venue for religious activities approved by the state.

Yushan Mountain got its name from the legend that Yu the Great climbed this mountain while taming floods. Yushan Chan Temple became famous for the miraculous responses from the Divine King Yu Bodhisattva. According to historical records, the temple was first constructed during the reign of Emperor Hui of the Western Han Dynasty. The sacred site stands quietly on Yufeng Hill at the southern foot of Yushan Mountain. The Mahavira Hall consists of three courtyards from front to back. Built of bricks and wood with plain roofs covered in swallow-tail tiles, the building was once quite magnificent. Incense burned continuously through dynasties, and the divinities were widely believed to manifest divine power.

It is said that Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty both climbed Yushan Mountain to pray for national peace and prosperity. Literary figures including Du Fu and Liu Daxia also left poems and inscriptions here. Regrettably, this renowned ancient temple with a history of more than 2,000 years was burned to ruins by Japanese invaders. Nothing remained but broken tiles and bricks, leaving people filled with deep sorrow.

Since the reform and opening-up policy was launched, the Party’s policy of freedom of religious belief has been fully implemented, satisfying the religious needs of numerous believers. In 1992, upon the application of Bhikkhuni Shi Huaiqing and with the approval of the county people’s government, reconstruction work on Yushan Chan Temple began.

Today, the temple is encircled by green mountains and luxuriant camphor forests, boasting a pleasant natural and cultural environment. The main buildings include the Mahavira Hall, the Buddha Recitation Hall, the Divine King Yu Hall, the dining hall and monks’ quarters. The whole complex features a unique design with solemn grandeur.

Around the temple lie a great many historic sites: King Yu’s Three Boats, King Yu’s Waterside Observation Chair, the Goddess’s Washing Platform, Western Han stone plinths, Ming Dynasty stone drum gate piers, the horizontal plaque for Yu the Great Hall, a sedan-shaped Earth God Temple, the cave where an ancient Tang master passed away, Du Fu’s poetic inscriptions, and a simple Wenchang Pavilion. These scenic relics greatly enrich the natural and cultural landscapes and attract countless visitors.

Ever since its reopening, the temple has drawn an endless stream of worshippers and tourists with flourishing incense. As the poem goes: Monks chant sutras inside the hall; Morning bells and evening drums resound far and wide. Pilgrims climb up Yufeng peak, To this time-honored sacred ground