Baiyun Temple - beyond the clouds

Baiyun Temple in Mount Wutai [Photo/wutaishan.city.sohu.com]

The Mount Wutai scenic area of Shanxi province is one of the four most prominent Buddhist mountains in China and a home of the Manjusri Bodhisattva, and one of the mountain's finest religious sites is the Baiyun Temple on the south pass.

The temple commands a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape and is rich in Buddhist traditions. It was built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD) by a local government official and reached its height of architectural splendor in the Song Dynasty (960-1269). Throughout its history, the temple was destroyed in many ways but has now revived the splendor of yesteryear under the stewardship of the Master Changlong and the Buddhist rites and services on the square in front draw a wide range of followers.