Overview:

Yuantong Temple is the oldest and one of the most popular Buddhist temples in Yunnan Province. It is located about 5km from Kunming's city center and dates back to the Nanzhao Kingdom of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Over the centuries, it has served as a major center of Buddhism in Yunnan. The temple is renowned for its bronze statues of the Buddha Amitabha and his two attendants. Many festivals are held at the temple, including the Temple Fair, held annually in October. The temple offers a wide variety of activities for visitors, from traditional Chinese music performances to live animals. It also has a large vegetarian restaurant, which is frequented by Buddhist monks and lay people alike. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in China
Prominent Features:

1. Incredible Architecture: The Yuantong Temple in Kunming features monuments with incredible architecture. The interior of the temple is filled with amazing stone carvings, painted decorations, and colorful statues. 2. Ancient Culture: Built in 738 AD, the Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest temples in China. It was originally known as the Cuiwei Temple and was renamed to the Yuantong Temple in 917 AD. Visitors to the temple can learn about the ancient cultures that created it. 3. Reliquary Caves: The Yuantong Temple is also home to several Reliquary Caves that contain the remains of prominent monks. Visitors can visit these caves and learn more about the Buddhist religion. 4. Unique Statues: Visitors to the temple are drawn to its unique statue collection, which includes the statue of Avalokitesvara Buddha and Maitreya Buddha (the future Buddha). 5. Peaceful Ambience: The temple also serves as a spiritual retreat with a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors often come to the temple to meditate and reflect. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in China.

History:

The Yuantong Temple (源頭寺) is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China. The temple is known as the largest and most famous Buddhist temple in southern China. It is one of the four major temples in Yunnan Province and one of the most famous Buddhist temples in China. The temple was built in Tianjin during the Longchang year of the Song Dynasty (979-990 AD), but was moved to Kunming during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD). Legend states that the first abbot of the temple was Zhang Yuanlu, a Buddhist monk who had practiced in the temple in Tianjin. It is believed that the temple is named after the Nun Yuantong, a disciple of the monk. For many centuries, the temple has been a center of Buddhism in the area, hosting many events and activities related to Buddhism. These include lay Buddhist gatherings, dharma talks, meditation classes, and other activities. In addition, the temple has become a major tourist attraction of the city, attracting millions of visitors each year. The temple is renowned for its original garden and artificial lake, as well as its numerous statues of Buddha and bodhisattvas. It is one of the few places in Kunming where one can find statues of all of the five main Buddhas of Mahayana Buddhism. There are also several large structures surrounding the main hall, including a pagoda, a Guanyin Hall, and an exhibition hall. In recent decades, the Yuantong Temple has become an important center for the study and practice of Chinese Buddhism. It has welcomed many renowned Buddhist teachers who have given lectures and taught classes here. In addition, the temple has also invited many Buddhist monks and nuns to receive official ordinations here. Visit one of the famous monuments of China with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Yuantong Temple is one of the largest existing Wooden Buddhist Temples in Yunnan and one of the best preserved temples in Kunming. 2. Yuantong Temple was built in the North Song Dynasty (960-1127), and with many additions and reconstruction over the centuries, it has now a long history of nearly a thousand years. 3. The existing buildings were structures recreated during the Ming Dynasty, the construction of which was overseen by the court-designated abbot at the time. 4. The Temple has three major courtyards measuring 360 meters from east to west, and 170 meters from north to south. 5. There used to be 86 halls connected by corridors in its first court. But today, there are only three halls and eight side halls remaining. 6. The main hall houses a 16 meter high Maitreya Buddha made of copper and gilded with gold. 7. One of the most impressive elements of the temple is a statue of five-story-tall white jade-like Guanyin Foundtains, with eighteen lotuses circling around it. 8. Yuantong Temple is also known for its lush garden, which covers over 16,000 square meters and is home to cypress trees over a hundred years old. One of the historical monuments of China, it tells the story of a bygone era