Guangde Temple (广德寺), originally named Yunju Temple, is a renowned Buddhist temple adjacent to the ancient Longzhong in Hubei Province, China. The temple occupies a rectangular area of approximately 30,000 square meters, surrounded by a stream about 10 meters wide. With its numerous halls, ancient trees, and moss-covered grounds, the temple exudes an atmosphere of profound tranquility.
Among the original buildings of the temple, including the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Dharma Hall, the Weituo Hall, the Avalokiteshvara Hall, the scripture repository, and the abbot’s quarters, only the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the scripture repository, the abbot’s quarters, and the Duobao Pagoda remain today.
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Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 1 hour |
| Ticket Price | 10 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.00 – 18.00 |
Location and Transportation
Guangde Temple is situated approximately 13 kilometers west of Xiangyang City in Hubei Province, China. It is located near the intersection of Longzhong Avenue and Sangu Road, about 200 meters northwest from the crossroads, adjacent to the Gulongzhong Scenic Area. To get there, you can take bus 512 or 543 and get off at Guangdesi Stop (广德寺站).
Highlihgts of Guangde Temple
Duobao Pagoda
The Duobao Pagoda, constructed between the seventh and ninth years of the Ming Dynasty’s Hongzhi era (1494-1496), is a brick-and-stone structure designed to resemble wood. It stands approximately 17 meters tall and consists of two parts: the pagoda base and the pagoda pinnacle. The pagoda earned its name, which translates to “Pagoda of Many Treasures,” due to the presence of 45 stone-carved seated Buddhas embedded both inside and outside the pagoda.
The pagoda base, standing 7 meters tall, is octagonal in shape with carved stone dragon heads at each corner. Each wall of the base features niches containing stone-carved Buddha statues seated on lotus thrones, with four stone-carved guardian figures flanking the entrances. Above the main entrance, a stone plaque bears the inscription “Duobao Pagoda (多宝佛塔)” in bold calligraphy, emphasizing its solemn and sturdy construction. The pagoda pinnacle is adorned with five smaller stupas, with the central stupa known as the Lama Stupa, standing 10 meters tall with a base resembling Mount Sumeru and a lotus platform at the top.
Story about the Name
According to temple inscriptions, during the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty, after the untimely death of Duke Xiang’s beloved concubine, Lady Du, the duke chose to bury her near Yunju Temple due to its auspicious Feng Shui. Dissatisfied with this decision, the abbot of Yunju Temple, Dao Yuan, intended to lead the monks away. However, other Buddhist temples in Xiangyang sent petitions to condemn Duke Xiang’s actions. Faced with this opposition, Duke Xiang sought the intervention of the Chenghua Emperor, who issued a decree allowing the duke to choose a nearby auspicious site and providing the necessary materials to build a temple. Once completed, the temple was handed over to the monks, and Duke Xiang renamed it Guangde Temple. The imperial decree bestowing the temple’s name still hangs above the temple’s gate to this day.
