Zhaogao Guan National Forest Park Scenic Area

Bairen Rock Chan Temple is the ancestral shrine of Pure Land Buddhism, the largest sect of Buddhism worldwide. It was originally founded by Master Huiyuan, the patriarch of Pure Land Buddhism and an eminent monk of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, serving as the very first venue where Master Huiyuan cultivated himself and expounded Buddhist doctrines. The temple and its founder occupy a pivotal position in the history of Chinese Buddhism.

Volume 29 of the Avatamsaka Sutra records: “In the land of Zhendan lies a dwelling place of Bodhisattvas known as Mount Narayana, where past Bodhisattvas have long resided. In frontier barbarian lands stands another Bodhisattva abode called Niutou Mountain, also inhabited by ancient Bodhisattvas.” Bairen Rock nestles within Niutou Mountain.

First built in 357 AD, Bairen Rock Chan Temple underwent repeated renovations through successive dynasties. Its core attractions include the Rock Temple Chan Courtyard, Dharma Altar, Scripture Lecture Platform, Cultivation Cave, Ancient South Nunnery, Layered Green Tower, ancient plank road, Go Pavilion, Heart-Testing Stone, stone pagoda and cliff stone carvings. In addition, Sun Chuanting and Zhang Fengyi, both Grand Coordinator and Minister of War of the Ming Dynasty, once studied and secluded themselves at Bairen Rock Chan Temple; the general layout of their ancient academy remains discernible to this day.

Bairen Rock boasts gorgeous and diverse natural scenery, featuring the Winding Secluded Path, Mist Cloud Cave, Arhat Peak, Incense Burner Peak, Child-Holding Peak, Golden Eagle Cliff, Tiger-Hiding Cliff, Nine-Tier Cliff and Bodhisattva Summit. The entire scenic area is lined with winding, steep mountains arranged in graceful layers: some peaks stand tall and grand with deep, quiet valleys and dense forests; others rise sheer and precipitous, breathtakingly exquisite against the sky. Integrating peaks, rocks, woods, valleys and springs, the landscape is set off by wild vegetation including mountain peach, wild apricot, rose, rhododendron micranthum and smoke tree, forming a natural scroll painting. Moreover, more than 280 varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs such as codonopsis and ganoderma lucidum grow here, alongside over 50 species of wild animals including roe deer, pheasants and red foxes.

Depart from the county seat, cross the Hutuo River Bridge, pass through Xingao Village, Liujiagedong, Baiyuli, Kouzi, Qingshe and Hongsi Village, then drive 20 kilometers south to reach the scenic area.