Spiritual/Religious Sites on Hainan
Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist, Shrines, Christian Churches, Islamic Mosques
佛教徒 Buddhist Temples
1. Lingshan Temple – Lingshan Temple was originally built in the Song Dynasty. It was originally named Tiannan Temple. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was renamed Tianning Temple. After many reconstructions, it has developed into the largest Buddhist temple in Hainan by the Ming Dynasty.
2. Huzhong Temple – Huzhong Temple, formerly known as Jishan Temple, is located in Dayingshan Village, Haikou City. After the liberation of Hainan, it was demolished for the construction of Haikou Park. After the Cultural Revolution, the believers of the original Jishan Temple moved to the Huxin Island of Gangzhong Lake near Xiuying Port to build a temple to worship Maitreya Bodhisattva. After the establishment of a province in Hainan, the Daxiong Hall was expanded and renamed Huzhong Temple.
3. Renxin Temple – Renxin Temple, located on Haidian Island, Meilan District, Haikou City, Hainan Province, was once Renxin Temple and Renxintang. It is a thousand-year-old temple with a long history. The ancient Renxin Temple has extremely rich cultural connotation and historical accumulation. It has been listed as a large-scale religious tourism project in Hainan Province. The entire temple has: Shanmen Hall, Daxiong Hall, Fa Hall, Bell and Drum Tower, Tibetan Scripture Building, Guest Hall, Abbot’s Building, Buildings such as monks’ houses, asylums, Xiangji kitchens, meditation halls, gardens, and release ponds have attracted a large number of benevolent men and women to come to pilgrimage and pray to the Buddha.
4. Xitian Temple – Xitian Temple, located in Yixing Street, Longhua District, Haikou City, Hainan Province, was originally built during the Longqing period of the Ming Dynasty. It was repeatedly damaged and later rebuilt and rebuilt more than 10 times. At present, the building form of Xitian Temple basically retains the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty. It covers an area of 1193 square meters. The original building area is more than 900 square meters. The brick and wood structure, T-shaped dougong, the door has a stone carved horizontal plaque “Xitian Temple”, which is from Zhang Yuesong’s handwriting from Qiongji in Qing Dynasty. It is a rare and well-preserved ancient building in Hainan Province. It has high historical, artistic and scientific value. It was listed as a key cultural relics protection unit by the Haikou Municipal People’s Government in 1985.
5. Taihua Temple – Taihua Nunnery, located at Linggui Avenue, Meilan District, Haikou City, Hainan Province, was founded in 1757 in the fifth year of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1757). In the long years of more than 300 years, Taihua Temple has gone through the vicissitudes of life.
6. Chaoyin Temple – Chaoyin Temple is located in the Dongshanling Scenic Spot 2 kilometers east of Wancheng Town, Wanning City, Hainan Province. It was originally built in the Southern Song Dynasty and was originally named Lingzhaotang. After the expansion was funded by hundreds of households in the Ming Dynasty, it was renamed Chaoyin Temple. From Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty to the Republic of China, it has been repaired many times and is relatively well-preserved. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple was severely damaged, and the Buddhist niches and historical sites were destroyed in Dan. It was not until the late 1970s and early 1980s that Dongshanling was re-protected. On March 29, 1986, Dongshanling Chaoyin Temple was opened and Buddha statues were opened.
7. Guangshan Temple – Guangshan Temple, located in Houan Town, Wanning City, Hainan Province, was built in the thirteenth year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty. It was built with funds from 64 people including Yang Tingkai, a local nobleman and aristocrat in Houan. The original area was about 20 acres, but now only 5 acres remain. The century-old temple is rare in Hainan. The Nunnery is located in a private house. There are four glazed tiled houses: the main hall, the front hall, the side hall, and the Chuanjing hall.
8. Jinshan Temple – Jinshan Temple, located in the outskirts of Jinjiang City, Chengmai County, Hainan Province, was built in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. It was destroyed by the war on the eve of liberation. It was rebuilt in 1993. It covers an area of more than 100 acres and faces south. It is composed of a group of groups, built on the mountain, on a magnificent scale, overlooking the whole city. It is currently the largest Buddhist building in Hainan Province. In 2014, Jinshan Temple completed and opened the Wanfu Longevity Pharmacist Pagoda (the world’s tallest Pharmacist Pagoda- It is 88.79 meters high and has 16 floors).
9. Yongqing Temple – Yongqing Temple, located in Yingbin Peninsula, Old Town Development Zone, Old Town, Chengmai County, Hainan Province, was built in the Song Dynasty and later expanded through generations to become the largest temple in Chengmai at that time. It is a sacred place for worship and prayer among local people. Incense lingers throughout the year. In 2001, Chengmai County decided to rebuild Yongqing Temple. On April 22, 2009, Yongqing Temple was rebuilt and completed. It covers an area of about 80 acres.
10. Sairen Temple – Xiren Temple, located in Tuncheng Town, Tunchang County, Hainan Province, was built in the fourth year of Xianfeng in the Qing Dynasty (1854). It was built by local people with funds raised spontaneously. It is a straight-axis three-entry monastery. The first entry of the temple is the Yulan Temple, the second entry is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, dedicated to Emperor Zhenwu, and the third entry is the Daxiong Hall, dedicated to the statues of Shakyamuni Buddha and Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.
11. Fuqing Temple – (No description)
12. Samadhi Temple – Sanmai Temple, located in the south of Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province, was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It overlooks the South China Sea to the east and is backed by Bijia Mountain. The surrounding landscape is beautiful and natural. The temple has a complete set of pavilions, bell towers, monks and halls, with winding corridors and towering old trees.
13, Qingshan Temple – Qingshan Temple, located about 280 meters west of Chengnan Village Primary School, Qinghai Road, Lingshui Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province, is the best place to learn Buddhist chanting. Because this is a monastery specializing in Jingzong, the abbot here leads the monks to respect the Buddha’s benevolence according to the principles and the law, reporting the fourfold grace, and three ways of suffering. I spare no effort to promote the Dharma for the benefit of life, and strive to promote the use of suffering as a teacher, a precept as a teacher, and a strict discipline as a teacher. It is rare in today’s society. This is why it has attracted countless believers from all over the country. Never come to observe, enter incense, worship Buddha, and worship.
14. Nanshan Temple – Nanshan Temple, also known as Aoshan Temple, is located in the Buddhist Cultural Park in the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone 40 kilometers west of Sanya City, Hainan Province. The foundation stone was laid on November 11, 1995 and completed on April 12, 1998. It is a style imitating the Tang Dynasty. A large temple with mountains and seas, it is a modern Buddhist temple that integrates Buddhist culture, architectural gardens, sightseeing and recreation. The temple covers an area of more than 400 acres, and has built the Renwang Hall, the Heavenly King Hall, the Bell Tower, the Zhuan Zang, the East-West Climbing Corridor, the East-West Hall, the Golden Hall and other Tang-like buildings. , Is also the largest temple in the South. The nearby famous Sanya Nanshan Guanyin on the Sea (108 meters high) is well-known, and there is an endless stream of tourists who come to visit, pay homage, and pray every year.
15. Hongguang Temple – Hongguang Temple, located in Wencheng Town, Wenchang City, Hainan Province, was formerly known as Ruwenzhen House. It was built in the 14th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty and was donated by overseas Chinese Buddhists from Wenchang.
16. Boao Temple – The Boao Temple is located in Boao Town, Qionghai City, Hainan Province, across the water from the permanent site of the Boao Forum for Asia. It was built in 2000 and funded by Jiang Xiaosong, the founder of Boao Water City, with a total construction area of 60,000 square meters. In March 2005, Boao Temple was officially completed and opened to the outside world. Boao Zen Temple is built according to the rules of orthodox Zen temples, with the north-south as the central axis, followed by Tonghui Gate, Tianwang Hall, Puji Hall, Daxiong Hall, Ten Thousand Buddhas Towers, and on both sides of the building are bell and drum towers, east and west halls, abbots’ buildings, and Shang Guest halls, monks’ dormitories, etc.
17. Lotus Temple – The Lotus Temple, located in the Lianhuashan Geological Park, Lanyang Town, Danzhou City, Hainan Province, was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. In 2009, with the approval of the Hainan Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission, the Lotus Temple began to plan for reconstruction, and a formal foundation laying ceremony was held in July 2016. According to the plan, after the reconstruction, the Lotus Temple will occupy an area of 10 hectares. The construction project includes the gate pavilion. , Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Hall, Tibetan Scripture Pavilion, Hall of Prayer, Guanyin Hall, Abbot’s House, Meditation and Health Residence, Drum Tower, Manjusri Hall, Puxian Hall, Pizang Hall, Garan Hall and other late Tang style buildings. At present, the Lotus Temple has been opened to the outside world, but some buildings have not been fully completed. When all of them are completed, they will become the central Buddhist dojo in western Hainan.
18. Longfengshan Puji Temple – Puji Temple, located in Longfeng Mountain, Pozhai Township, Ding’an County, Hainan Province, was built in 1847. Lin Wangxian was the founder of the mountain and was originally called the Holy Temple. The inherited legal system is the Pure Land School. It was burned by the Japanese army in 1938, the temple was destroyed, and the monks were killed (only the famous believers survived). Later, due to historical reasons, religious activities ceased. Until the end of the Cultural Revolution, the believers raised funds and began to rebuild the temple at Longfeng Mountain, renamed the sacred temple Puji Temple, and expanded Puji Temple in 1993. At present, there are mainly buildings such as the Daxiong Hall, Tianwang Hall, Abbot’s Chamber, Guest Hall, and Lecture Hall. With the support of relevant departments of the Ding’an County Government, Puji Temple has been approved as an open temple, and believers come to worship the Buddha all the year round.
Most tourist sites however only list Nanshan Temple. Wikipedia has the following description.
Nanshan Temple (Sanya) The temple’s name originates from a popular Buddhist expression. (Chinese: 福如东海, 寿比南山; lit. ‘Good fortune is much as the East Sea; longevity is high as Nanshan’). The temple was built on April 12, 1988 to commemorate two thousand years of Buddhism in China. It has a total area of 40,000 square metres. It contains several Tang dynasty replicas. The temple is part of an area known as the Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Zone, classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration. [One dark photo with heavy clouds behind it.]
文昌孔庙 Confucian Temple
文庙 Wenchang Confucius Temple
Built during the 11th century, Wenchang Confucius Temple was renovated and expanded in the Ming Dynasty. Considered by many to be the Number One Temple on Hainan, Confucius Temple covers an area of 3300 square meters. Most buildings in the temple are carved with flowers, birds and animals.
Inside there are the Lingxing Gate, Panchi Pool, Zhuangyuan Bridge and the statue of Confucius. Beside the bridge, there is an ancient well, called Saint Spring. The water is clear and sweet, and has never dry for hundreds of years. The main architectures in the rear courtyard are the Dacheng Gate and Dacheng Hall. In front of the Dacheng Gate, there stands the statue of Confucius. Dacheng Hall is wooden, with primitive simplicity. In the hall, there are the tabernacle, statue, stele and credence.
道观 Taoist Temples
It was difficult to find a Taoist temple on Hainan on the internet in English. Finally, I found one a Russian internet site.
Taoist Park of Heavenly Grottoes. Taoist Temple Complex Dun Tian (Dong Tian)
这座寺庙的名气是因为根据古老的道教信仰，南龙生活在这些地方，是世界 4-Exs 之一。 多亏了这种奉献，寺庙建筑群顿天不仅在普通游客中很受欢迎，而且在来这里崇拜这个神圣存在的这个宗教的信徒中也很受欢迎。 短途旅行知道与这个地方相关的许多其他有趣的传说和传说。
The fame of the temple is explained by the fact that according to the ancient Taoist beliefs, it is in these places that the Southern Dragon lives, which is one of the 4-Exs of the world. Thanks to this giving, temple complex Dun Tian is popular not only among ordinary tourists, but also in the followers of this religion coming here to worship this sacred being. Excursions know many other interesting legends and legends associated with this place.
The importance of the church for China confirms the fact that at the beginning of the 1990s the Temple of Dong Tian visited the Secretary of the CP of the People’s Republic of Jiang Zemin. It was the only sight of Sanya, which he honored at the time of his visit to this region. By the way, one of the picturesque stones of the Park stores the inscription, which Jiang Zemin left on it.
Beautiful Taoi Temples Dun Tien are perfectly inscribed in wondrous sea landscapes with stone torus. Next to them is a forest with rich tropical vegetation, among which a unique relict plant is distinguished – “dragon” palm (Dracaena Cambodiana), 6000 years old growing in these places and is a symbol of long-livers in China. Tour Tianship Excursion to all lovers of Chinese architecture and recreation in nature.
How to get to Dun Tian on Hainan
Dong Tian is located 35 kilometers from the city of Sanya. You can get here by bus №25, by taxi or with a sightseeing group.
Hainan Wenbifeng Taoist Culture Garden (hai nan wen bi feng dao jia wen hua yuan )
Wenbifeng Taoist culture garden is located in Ding’an Wenbifeng, 46 kilometers away from Haikou, Hainan Province. Wenbi peak and Nanli Lake in Ding’an depend on each other in landscape and meaning. Since ancient times, it has been regarded as the symbol of “Nanming Qidian” and the epitome of island cultural landscape.
Yuannei Yuchan palace is the only legal Temple of Taoism in Hainan, and also the final seclusion place of Bai Yuchan, the actual founder of Nanzong Taoism and the fifth ancestor of Nanzong Taoism. It is regarded as “Nanzong altar” by Taoism.
Address: at the foot of Wenbifeng mountain, Ding’an County, Haikou City, Hainan Province
- Sugong Shrine (苏公祠) Haikou, Five Officials Temple (五公祠, Wŭgōng Cí) (Wikipedia has much more complete description than any of the tourist sites but the photos are so-so.)
- Xitian Temple – (actually more of a shrine built to commemorate Wang Zuo (wáng zuǒ 王佐), who was a Ming Dynasty official. When he was the official in Hainan, he did many good things for the common people.)
基督教会 Christian Churches
St. Teresa’s Church in Ding’an County is the oldest church on the island. It was built in 1892 by the French missionaries. It is now a popular pilgrimage site among the foreign and local visitors alike.
Haikou Catholic Church 海南省海口市美兰区美苑路20号 20 Meiyuan Rd, Meilan, Haikou, Hainan, China 570100 Haikou, Hainan, China
伊斯兰清真寺 Islamic Mosques
海口清真寺 Haikou Masjid
Haikou Masjid Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City – Crossroads of Kunnan Road and Fengxiang Road, Haikou. During the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, Muslims from Arab countries in the Middle east started the trade route between China and Middle East which later became known as the Marin Silk Road.
There are four Muslim cemeteries in Hainan Island for those early Muslim traders. It is said that Muslim traders from India’s Gujarat brought Islam to Hainan Island.
The city of Sanya has a large Muslim population whom are decedents of Muslims from Southeast Asian countries like Viet Nam and Malaysia. Currently there are over 10,000 Muslims in Hainan province. Haikou Mosque is the only mosque in the provincial capital city of Hainan province.
三亚北清真寺 Sanya North Mosque
Sanya North Mosque is located at Huihui Village. It was constructed at the beginning of Southern Song Dynasty. Sanya North Mosque was destroyed in 1939 the Japanese army and again during the Culture Revolution (1966-1976). The prayer hall of Sanya North Mosque was built in 1981 and renovated in 1993 which can hold up to 1500 people to pray. Sanya North Mosque has a Madrassah, Huimin night school. https://chinahalaltours.com/mosques
I heard in Haikou there were four Masjids in Sanya, but my time in Hainan was too short to visit Sanya. Insha’Allah someday.