A thousand cherry trees once graced this very spot. This is the site of Chongxiao Temple a place steeped in history and fragrant with the echoes of countless prayers.
Built during the Sui Dynasty in 627 AD Chongxiao Temple originally bore the name Chongsi Temple. Later the ‘si’ was changed to ‘xiao’ for better pronunciation. Legend says Emperor Taizong commissioned the temple’s construction on the site of an old Sui Dynasty garden. He named it Chongxiao Temple. A stone tablet at the temple’s mountain gate proudly proclaims “Emperor Taizong donated Chongxiao Temple”.
Throughout its long history Chongxiao Temple has undergone numerous renovations. The Ming Dynasty saw significant repairs in 1522 and 1593. These renovations were supported by various high-ranking officials. Their contributions ensured the temple’s splendor endured. The temple’s layout reveals a complex history. It was originally divided into three courtyards. These were connected by four halls running north and south. The temple’s mountain gate on either side boasted corner gates and shadow walls.
During the Qing Dynasty the temple became famous for its plum blossoms and cherry blossoms. So many people came to admire them. In 1935 the Beijing-Sui Railway Bureau even opened a special sightseeing train to bring visitors to the temple. The sight of the pale pink and deep green blossoms was said to be unparalleled in all of Beijing.
Unfortunately much of the original temple was destroyed. Only the two-story Chongxiao Temple Sutra Pavilion remains today. It’s a remarkable testament to the temple’s past. This pavilion sits within the Baijiatan Primary School. A single ancient camphor tree stands as a silent guardian of the temple grounds. The memory of a thousand blossoms lives on. Though the main structures are gone the spirit of Chongxiao Temple endures in the hearts of those who remember it. And in this surviving pavilion we see a touch of its ancient glory.