Built in 586 and located in Zhengding, Hebei Province, the sixth year of Kaihuang, Sui Dynasty, the Longxing Temple was originally called the "Hidden Dragon Temple" (Long Cang Si ) , and later in the Tang Dynasty the "Rising Dragon Temple" (Long Xing Si). In 1713, the fifty-second year of Emperor Kangxi's reign in the Qing Dynasty, the temple got its current name the "Longxing Temple" (Long Xing Si), which literally means the temple of prosperity.

Because of the huge bronze statue of Buddha in the temple, the Longxing Temple is also widely known as Dafo (bid Buddha) Temple. In Hebei Province there is such a saying that: Cangzhou City has lions; Dingzhou City has towers; Zhengding City has a huge Bodhisattva. The Longxing Temple occupies an area of around 50,000 square meters. The structure and the buildings kept the Song architectural style. Facing to the south, the temple consists of Hall of Deva Kings, Hall of Mahamuni, Altar of Vinaya (or Ordination Platform), Pavilion of the Great Mercy and Temple of Amitabha.

The temple consists of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of Manichaean, Buddhist altar, Pavilion of Kindness, Pavillion of Zhuanlunzang, Pavillion of Great Benevolence, and Hall of Amitabha, The buildings to the East are residences for the monks.The buildings from the Song Dynasty still surviving include the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of Manichaean, Pavillion of Kindness, and Pavillion of Zhuanlunzang. Though they were rebuilt several times, they still retain the style of the Song Dynasty. There are also a vast amounts of art treasures such as upright stone tablets, sculpture and paintings. It provides important evidence of the development of ancient Chinese architecture and culture.

The Hall of Mahamuni lies at the front part of the central line, first built in the 4th year (1052) of the Huangtuo reign of the Northern Song Dynasty. Frescoes made in the Ming Dynasty with subjects of Buddhist stories are around the hall. Their color and hue is still as bright as they were just painted. Five clay sculptures in golden clothes are on the altar in the middle of the hall. Among them, statues of Sakyamuni, Ven. Ananda, Kassapa were original ones made in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and the other two were made in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when the temple was expanded. On the back of the screen wall in the north is the unconventional painted clay sculpture of Sumeru. In the sculpture, all kinds of rare fowls and strange animals are running, and a Kwan-yin sits quietly in the middle with a chaplet around the head, ribbons on the shoulders, chest and arms exposed, full and round, hands on knees, one foot on a lotus and the other foot crouched. She appears calm and at ease. This sculpture broke away from the traditional dull style of the religious icons, and is a fine work of the clay sculpture of the Ming Dynasty.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government devoted much attention to the protection and management of Longxing temple. In 1953, a special unit was set up in charge of the preservation of cultural relics. In 1961 the State Council proclaimed Longxing temple a national protected cultural site. Many scientific restorations of the temple have been carried out - although there is still some evidence of a need for the odd coat of paint to protect the woodwork and preserve the exquisite colouring under the eaves and the ceilings of some buildings. The gardens, on the other hand are immaculate and a credit to the staff.

Ticket: 40 CNY
Opening hours: 9:00-16:00