Western
Hills
 Located
15km west of Kunming, Western Hills is a
range of four mountains stretching over
40 kilometers along the western shore of
Dianchi Lake, looking like a Sleeping Beauty
with long tresses trailing away to the south.
With an elevation of 1900-2350
meters, Western Hills contains the best
scenery and some of the finest temples in
the entire region.
Huating Temple (Huating Si)
Built in the 11th century, it
used to be a county temple of the Nanzhao
Kingdom. Rebuilt in 14th century, it continued
to grow and later became the largest Buddhist
complex in Kunming.
The main temple contains a trinity
of gilded lacquer Buddhas seated on lotus
thrones. It is characterized by blue hair,
august gesture and sumptuous setting. Comparing
with the serious Buddha, the 500 luohan
on the sidewalls, similar to those in the
Bamboo Temple, then appear frivolous and
easygoing.
Taihua Temple (Taihua Si)
With an elevation of 2350m,
Taihua Temple is located in a deep forest
2 kilometers away from Huating Temple. First
built in the Yuan dynasty, it is the oldest
temple in Western Hills. The temple was
destroyed and rebuilt for several times,
and the present one dates back to 1687.
The temple is famous for its
rare flowers and trees. Many camellia, magnolia,
sweet-scented osmanthus and others trees
were planted in and outside the temple,
made the temple the best place to enjoy
the flowers.
The main hall in this temple
is Hall of the Precious Hero (Daxiong Baodian),
where Buddhas of the Three Ages: Sakyamuni,
Maitreys and Kasyapa-matanga are enshrined.
Behind the main hall stands an altar to
Guanyin. Reputed as Deliverer of Sons, Guanyin
is widely enshrined by newlyweds and barren
couples who hope to get a male baby.
Sanqing Pavilion (Three Pure
Pavilion)
To the south of Huating Temple
is Three Purity Pavilion. Different from
the former temples, this temple follows
Taoist architectural style. Originally built
in the early 14th century as a summer resort
for a Mongol prince of the Yuan dynasty,
the pavilion later was renovated as a Daoist
shrine.
The two-storey pavilion now
serves as a teahouse. Statues of Zhen Wu
and Taishang Laojun were enshrined there.
A stone carving, depicting a green snake
winding around a tortoise stands by the
road. Snake and tortoise are symbols of
longevity and it is said that one who touches
the carving would live longer.
Dragon Gate (Longmen)
 Totally
cut on a natural precipice, Dragon Gate
is the highlight of Western Hills. With
an elevation of 2,500 meters, it is the
highest temple on the hill.
In 1781, a necessitous Daoist
monk named Wu Laiqing, motivated by devotion,
began chipping his way up the cliff with
hammer and chisel. After his death, two
devoted gentlemen, aided by villagers from
the foot of the mountain, continued his
project. After years' hard work, they finally
inched the route precariously upward to
a natural cliff-top platform, completing
Wu Laiqing's visionary plan in 1853.
Many inscriptions and steles
are found here and there in Dragon Gate.
Near Air Corridor stands an arch on which
the characters "Longmen" (Dragon
Gate) were inscribed. Looking down from
here, one may have a bird's view of Kunming
city and Dianchi Lake.
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