Huairou Things to Do

To the north-east of Huairou is one of the most attractive - and the largest - temple compounds in the Beijing area, set on the extensive slopes of the foothilss of the great mountains that fringe the northern parts of Beijing municipality.
Originally, the temple was built as the Temple of Great Brightness (Damingsi) in 348AD. During the time of Ming Emperor Zhengtong, 1436 to 1449, it was renamed Huguo Zifu Chansi, the Temple Guarding the Country. Given its position close to the passes through the mountains, this was an apt description. However, at some stage a legend developed of two red snails that were found in a pool near the temple. These snails emitted strange lights and were worshipped by the local people, who gave the hill there the name Hongluoshan and the temple became the Hongluosi or Red Snail Temple, always a very important place for the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism.
The temple has five main courtyards, in the traditional layered Buddhist style, with the main hall n the central courtyard. Outside, two beautiful gingko trees stand serenely overlooking the worshippers and visitors - I'm sure these silent giants could tell a few tales if they could talk. The temple buildings stride up the south-facing hillside, providing good views out over the North China Plain towards Beijing in clear weather. However, normally, the smoggy sky hides even the airport, although a nearby hill is a turning point for inbound aircraft and the planes can be seen, if not heard, eerily low in the grey haze. Perhaps the red lights were not snails, but the beacons of the turning aircraft.