Temple of Azure Clouds (Biyun Si)
Temple of Azure Clouds is inside the Fragrant Hill Park, it is close to the north gate, after paying the park ticket, another temple ticket (10 yuan) will be needed.
This temple was initially built during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was reconstructed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The interior buildings almost retain the style of the Ming.
The gate of Azure Clouds which is faced by the stone lions is called the Mountain Gate. Close to it is a very deep pool where visitors can view a river that never dries up. On both sides of this temple are two Buddhist guardians which were carved during the Ming Dynasty and each being five meters in height. Upon entering this temple, tourists first visit the Front Palace where the stout Maitreya is displayed and then they encounter the Sakyamuni’s Palace where there are statues of Sakyamuni and his disciples as well as the Arhats.
There are three places very famous inside the temple.
First, is the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, which is in the center of the temple. A red wooden plaque hanging above the front gate of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, the words on the plaque which is engraved in gold was written by his wife, Song Qingling. Inside this hall lies an empty crystal coffin presented by the USSR government in 1925 in memory of Sun Yat-sen, because his body had already been sealed inside the Vajra Throne Tower, the coffin was left here till now. Later in 1929, Sun’s body was moved and buried in Nanjing, the capital of China Republic. Photos of Sun Yat-sen, his handwriting, his books and his statue are also on display inside this hall.
Second, is the Five Hundred Arhats Hall located on the west side of the Temple of Azure Clouds, includes nine rooms, four small wells and a pavilion. The inner side of the front gate has figures of four heavenly kings, and three powerful Buddhas, Burning Lamp Buddha, Sakyamuni and Maitreya, are placed in the middle of this hall.
Altogether there are 512 statues, of which include 500 wooden Arhats, 11 Bodhisattvas and one statue of Ji Gong. All the Arhats are vivid, life-size statues with different poses and expressions. It has been said that two of these Arhats were the statues of Emperor Kangxi and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911).
The third place is the magnificent Vajrasana Throne Tower, it is the highest building in the Temple of Azure Clouds. This 35 meter-high tower with elegant decorations is well-known within the area of Beijing City for its high elevation. It is still open to public, as a perfect observational position to view all the scenery in the suburbs of Beijing City, it is a very worthy to climb up. you can take a panorama photo on the top just like I did.
By the way, in a little courtyard on the side way, where the Fourth Session of the First Central Committee of Kuomingtang was convened in 1925 and lasted for 10 days, and it was recorded as Western Hills Meeting in history, the group had a political goal of ousting the Communist Left.
It is suggested that tourists visit the Temple of Recumbent Buddha (Wofo Si) first, then Xiangshan (Fragrant Hill), and lastly the Temple of Azure Clouds. These three tourist spots are all on one tour itinerary and can be reached by public transportation, bus 318, 333, 360 or 904.
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[...] the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wofosi) is best known for its giant reclining Budda, in the Temple of Azure Clouds keeps a well preserved Vajrasana Throne Tower (there is another similar build at the Five-Pagoda [...]