Mount weibao Temples

Mount weibao Temples

All the Temples in Weibaoshan were built during the Ming and Qing dunasty and most of the buildings are preserved intact from this period.

甘露亭  - The Ganlu pavilion

Dedicated to Guanyin 观音, goddess of Mercy。

南诏土主庙 - The Temple of the Founder of Nanzhao 

Also called the Temple of the Mountain god, it is the main temple on Mt. Weibao. According to the legend, the Supreme Venerable Sovereign 太上老君 (Laozi) once honored Xinuluo 细奴罗, founder of the Nanzhao kingdom 南诏国, as Mountain-Inspecting King. 

Xinuluo, the local mountain patron god，is enshrined here as the Taoist god of Yunnan as well as his 13 descendants.

巍宝山南诏土主庙大殿 Nanzhao Tuzhu Temple Main Hall

文昌宫  -  Wenchang Temple

The Wenchang Temple is dedicated to the God of studies and literature called Wenchang. 
The temple is also popularly called "The temple of the Dragon" (Longtan dian 龙坛殿) because its water pool is said to host a Dragon.
The pavilion erected in the middle of the pool is named Wenlong Pavilion 文龙阁 and is very famous for its very rare Fresco from the Qing dynasty painted on its piers. The fresco titled "Dancing under the Pine Trees" depicts the scene of song competition of Yi nationality.; it was highly exulted when its copy was exhibited in Beijing. 

Wenlong Pavilion 文龙阁 in Wenchang Temple 文昌宫 

主君阁 - The ZhujunTemple

This pavilion is dedicated to Wang Linguan, protector of taoist temples and taoists believers.

主君阁大门 - The ZhujunTemple entrance

太子殿  - The Taizi Temple

Dedicated to the Buddha while he was still the disciple of Taishang Laojun.

太子殿大门- The entrance to Taizi Temple

新太子殿  - The New Taizi Temple

Dedicated to the popular Black Warrior Zhenwu 真武.

新太子殿  - The New Taizi Temple

玉皇阁 -  The Jade Emperor Temple

This pavilion is dedicated to the Jade emperor and his parents.

玉皇阁大门 -  The Jade Emperor Temple entrance

青霞观  - The Green Glow Temple

The green glow Temple (QingxiaGuan) is dedicated to Taishang Laojun (Laozi) 太上老君 and is popularly called Laojun Temple. It is said that here, Xinuluo 细奴罗, the founder the nanzhao 南诏 kingdom received teachings from Supreme Master Lao who used to sit on meditation on a stone located behind the temple.

青霞观 老君殿  - The Green Glow Temple main Hall

三皇殿 - The Temple of the Three Emperors 

Dedicated to the three mythological emperors of China,The Yellow Emperor Huangdi 皇帝, Fu Xi 伏羲氏 (founded the Bagua system) and Shen Nong 神農氏 (founded agriculture).

三皇殿 - The statues of the Three Emperors in the Sanhuang Temple

观音殿  - The Temple of Guanyin

Dedicated to the godess of Mercy

观音殿大门  - The Temple of Guanyin entrance

魁星阁 -  the Kui Star Pavilion

Dedicated to the Kui star, protecting students during examination.

魁星阁 -  the Kui Star Pavilion

斗姥阁  - The Big Dipper Temple

Dedicated to Doumu,  the mother of all stars.

斗姥阁  - The Big Dipper Temple Main Hall

三清殿 - The Temple of the Three Pure Ones

Dedicated to the three highest deities of Taoism.

三清殿 - The Main Hall of the Temple of the Three Pure Ones

夫子殿  - The Fuzi Temple

Dedicated to Confucius.

夫子殿  - The Fuzi Temple

培鹤楼  - The Peihe Tower

Dedicated to Lu Dongbin, the most famous of the popular group of the eight immortals.

培鹤楼  - The Peihe Tower

培鹤楼  - Lu Dongbin in The Peihe Tower

道源宫 - The Dao Origin Temple
Dedicated to Laozi, Buddha and Confucius.

道源宫 - The Dao Origin Temple

三公主殿 - The Temples of the Three Officials

Dedicated to three famous officials of the Nanzhao kingdom.

三公主殿 - The Temples of the Three Officials

财神殿  - The Temple of the God of Wealth

财神殿  - The Temple of the God of Wealth

含真楼 - The Hanzhen tower

Dedicated to the Quanzhen patriarchs. (under renovation)

含真楼 - The Hanzhen tower

朝阳洞 - The Chaoyang Cave
Under renovation.

朝阳洞 - The Chaoyang Cave entrance

长春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple

Dedicated to the Jade Emperor and the god of Thunder.

长春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple Main Hall

长春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple -The Jade emperor

长春洞  - Changchun Cave Temple- carvings from the Qing

Historical development of Taoism in Weibaoshan

Historical development of Taoism in Weibaoshan

Estern Han dynasty

It is said that the development of Taoism on this mountain started during the Eastern Han dynasty when zhang Daoling after having founded the five pecks of rice tradition in Sichuan came to the mountain to spread his teachings. One of his traces, includes the “zhang daoling well”.

The three kingdoms

During the period of the three kingdoms, a famous daoist Meng You (meng Huo’s brother) settled on Weibaoshan after an extraordinary person had given him books on immortality; there he helped the people with magical arts.

Tang dynasty

It is said that, The Supreme Venerable Sovereign Taishang Laojun enlightened Xinuluo who then founded the Nanzhao kingdom who then lasted during for 13 generations. Therefore, the imperial descendants of Nanzhao built the hall of the Venerable Sovereign during the tang dynasty.

During the Ming Dynasty, Du Guangting, an eminent Tang daoist settled on Weibao to spread Taoism.

Legend has it that the famous immortal Lu Dongbin once came to the mountain to teach Taoism.

Ming dynasty

During the Ming and Qing dynasty, many daoist from Mount Wudang of Hubei and the Qingcheng Mountain of Sichuan came to mount Weibao to live as hermit and practice inner alchemy; they took disciples and 20 more temples were built on the mountain.

Qing dynasty

The Qing dynasty attracted the largest number of worshippers in history, and hundreds of Daoists came to cultivate the dao on the mountain, which therefore became a Daoist sacred site and was granted the title of shifangconglin 十方丛林．.

weibaoshan fairs

Temples fairs

Weibaoshan fair

From 白族舞蹈在青霞观 Bai minority celebrations in the green glow temple

In the period of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty, the local people initiated the pilgrimage to Mt. Weibao; the temple Fair lasted half a month---- from the first to the fifteenth day of the second lunar month. This activity gradually declined in the period of the Republic of China. In recent years, the Temple Fair of Mt. Weibao has been rejuvenated on the 8th day of the 2nd lunar month.

Meanwhile, the traditional concert of Cavern Scripture Music洞經音樂 and the Yi nationality’s singing festival on Mt. Weibao have been revived.

The Mountain inspecting hall fair

From zhujundian

The local fellowmen of the Yi nationality hold Ancestor Worship ceremonies twice a year in the Mountain-Inspecting Hall.

The green glow temple fairs:

-1st day of the 6th lunar month: Ceremonies for the Star of the South.

-1st day of the 9th lunar month; ceremonies for the northern star.

The Wenchang temple fair

-2nd day of the 1st lunar month : Ceremonies celebrating the Wenchang god

-18th day of the 5th lunar month: celebration of the Celestial master tianshi

The caishen temple fair

-2nd day of the 1st lunar month: celebrations for the the gos of Wealth.

Transport to Weibaoshan

• From Kunming (capital of Yunnan province), 昆明

Kunming is 500 km East of Weibaoshan by motorway.
You can get from kunming to weibaoshan by the following transport:
- Flight from kunming to dali + bus from Dali to Weishan
- Buses from Kunming to Dali or directly to Weishan
- Train from Kunming to Dali
check this website for transport in Kunming

By plane:

For Flying to Kunming check Kunming airport flight schedules and book your flights on www.ctrip.com

For flights from Kunming to Dali, check   Dali airport flights schedule

Kunming Wujiaba International Airport has managed to connect the city with other places within Yunnan, in China, and even around the world. Flights are available to most major Chinese cities such as Beijing (3 hours), Shanghai (2.5 hours), Chengdu (1 hour), Guangzhou (1 hour), Guilin (1.25 hours) as well as international destinations such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. 

The airport is 5 km south of the city center (Dongfeng Square). To get to the airport by taxi usually costs about RMB15 and takes 20 minutes. Bus No. 52 runs from Daguan Tower via the main railway station to the airport. Also, bus No.67 runs by the north railway station via the main railway station. Lastly, bus No.78 runs between the airport and the north railway station via the municipal government building. Most of the above buses are available from 6am to 10pm.

There is no money exchange service at the airport, but there are ATMs that accept the Bank of China's Changcheng card and most international cards. However, there is a Bank of China branch opposite the the arrival gate with a credit card service (3% processing fee), traveler's check exchange (0.75% fee) and other money exchange services.

Train Kunming to Dali:

The best is  (Number 213): 10:10pm-6:45am; Returning (214): 7:42am-10:50pm
(RMB50 for a hard seat ticket and 85 for a hard sleeper middle bunk)

More details on http://www.chinatrainguide.com/kunming-railway-station/dali.html

There are two railway stations in Kunming.
The main railway station (also known as Nanyao station) is located about 4 km from the city, a RMB10 taxi ride that takes about 15 minutes. Apart from bus lines that link the railway station with the airport, bus No.68 runs to the Expo '99 Garden and bus No.80 runs to the Xiyuan bus station. Most hotels in Kunming have rail ticket booking services. The main railway ticket office is at 19 Kubshi Lu not far from the Nanjing Hotel. There, tickets can be arranged from 8am-5:30pm (with a long lunch break).

Buses from Kunming to Dali or Weishan:

 There are many modern air-conditioned buses (5h drive- price about 150 Yuan) from the main bus station (South Bus Station: Facing the Kunming Railway Station in Beijing Xi Lu)  taking you to either Dali or Weishan, at the bottom of Weibaoshan.

There are four major long distance bus stations in Kunming:

1. The South station is directly opposite the Nanyao railway station on Beijing Lu. This is Kunming's major bus station and has bus routes to most regional destinations. There are two classes of bus generally available here: the cheaper Regular and the faster and more luxurious Gaokuai (literally "Highway Express"). The station is well managed and ideal for all manner of tourists.
2. The Railway station square bus station has buses for most destinations in Kunming, although it is less organized with more private buses that have less fixed schedules. Most of the buses here are normal coaches and are cheaper than Gaokuai buses. Buses to Shilin and Jiuxiang start here, but the best way to reach these places  is by train, as the buses on this route tend to pick up as many tourists as possible along the way and the supposed 2 hour drive invariably ends up being at least 4 hours.
3. The Western station used to be the second largest bus station in Kunming, but is currently the third largest after the Huangtupo Station. Buses run to most regional destinations from here. The station is well managed.
4. Huangtupo station is growing bigger every day , but since this station is far from the city and most bus routes are not to tourist destinations, (with only two sleepers to Zhongdian departing at 3 PM and 7 PM, probably stopping in Lijiang and Dali), it is not widely used by tourists.

Hotel in Kunming:
Cheap Hotel in Kunming: the Camelia Hotel is cheap and friendly with online booking and most importantly the staff speak english and can arrange pick up at the airport and booking of bus or plane tickets to Weishan.

Camellia Hotel Kunming

昆明茶花宾馆

Phone:

           +86-(0871)3163000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +86-(0871)3163000      end_of_the_skype_highlighting      

Fax:+86 (0871)3147033

Address:

No.96 East Dongfeng Road, Panlong District, Kunming

昆明市 盘龙区 东风东路96号 Zip:650041


Expensive Hotels in Kunming:
http://www.sinohotelguide.com/kunming/index.php

Click here for more information about Kunming



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• Transport From Xiaguan-Dali (closest city to Weibaoshan) 大理

Dali is a Must see touristic city 50 km North of Weibaoshan.
Dali has an airport with regular flights mainly from Kunming (30 mn flight): Dali airport flights schedule
There are many buses (2h drive- price about 50 yuan) taking you from the main bus station to Weishan, at the bottom of Weibaoshan.
Click Here for more information on Dali



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•  From Weishan (closest village to Weibaoshan) 巍山镇

Weishan is the closest village to Webaoshan (10 km south east from the top) and is 50 km south west of the closest city Dali . Weishan is a traditional “walled village” with ancient architecture and is the birthplace of the Nanzhao kingdom. There you can hire taxis (max price 80 Yuan) or three-wheels vehicles (15 mns drive) to the gate of the mountain.
Click here for more information about Weishan

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