Chongshan Monastery

Chongshan means "appreciating kindness" and this Tang Dynasty monastery was built as a retreat for the emperor.

Now it is a Buddhist temple and a key cultural relic. Covering an area of 140,000 sq m, the Chongshan Monastery is a standout in Taiyuan. However, during the period of Emperor Tongzhi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the monastery was almost reduced to ashes.

Today only a small portion of the complex has survived. Chongshan Monastery is famous for the original sutras of the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties.

The central statue of Kwan-yin is located in the Dabei Hall, the main hall, and has 1,000 hands and eyes and stands 8.5 meters tall.

The three gilded Ming Dynasty mud statues of Bodhisattvas are about 8 meters high and still retain their color and smoothness.

Gem paintings are among the treasures in Chongshan Monastery, and copies of two frescos still retain their bright colors.