Daguangming Temple (大光明寺, Grand Brightness Temple), located on the southern foothills of Tianchang Mountain in Mudanjiang City, faces south and is beautifully set against mountains and waters. The temple’s architecture showcases a distinctive style of classical Chinese design, with unique features throughout its various buildings.
Inside the Heavenly King Hall, colorful murals depict the Four Heavenly Kings holding treasures. In the open space between the two halls, a seated Maitreya Buddha faces south, while the Veda Bodhisattva stands to the north, exuding a solemn presence. Ascending the steps leads to a statue of Avalokiteshvara, followed by a carved white marble dragon motif that flows along the slope.
A stone archway, inscribed with the phrases “深入经藏 Deep in the Sutras” and “智慧如海 Wisdom as Vast as the Sea” by the temple’s abbot, greets visitors. On either side of this entry are two-story pavilions, serving as the chanting hall and meditation hall. At the summit of the mountain is a spacious plaza, home to the Great Universal Enlightenment Hall, which houses the Five Dhyani Buddhas.
Notably, the temple features the country’s first open-air statue of the Eight-Arm Avalokiteshvara, sculpted from white marble. Inside the Miaojue Pavilion, there are 1,280 statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, showcasing the reclining Buddha style, a first in the country. The Great Universal Enlightenment Hall is the first single-eave, no-column Tang-style hall made entirely of reinforced concrete in China. The Five Dhyani Buddhas, crafted from white marble and arranged according to their respective cardinal directions, are a rare sight, making this the largest ensemble of its kind globally.
In 2008, renowned monks from major temples across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan participated in the hall’s consecration. The plaza features the Blood Sutra Pagoda and the Thousand Buddha Pagoda, while the Merit Treasure Pavilion holds 3,348 Amitabha Buddha statues, presented in a unique welcoming posture, marking another first in the nation.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 17.00 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0453-3938714 |
Location and Transportation
Daguangming Temple is located at 123 Usuli Street, Suifenhe City, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province, China. To get there, you can take bus Suifenhe 105A and get off at Daguangming Temple Stop (大光明寺站).
