Fawangsi Temple
Fawangsi temple, located at the foot of Yuzhufeng Peak, has been built in East Han Dynasty and is well known as father of Chinese ancient temples for its long history. The temple is surrounded by towering ancient trees and mountains on three sides with rivers, streams and lanes meandering through, making the whole temple tranquil. At the north of the temple stands an ancient tower, Fawangsi temple pagoda which is 15 floor and over 40 m in height. On the east of the temple stands a shorter brick tower of Tang and Song Dynasties and on the west side of the temple is a water mill brick tower shaped in hexagon and having 7 floors.
Fawangsi temple was built by King Liu Zhuang of Han Dynasty in 71 A.D. as scripture place for two eminent monks Shemoteng and Zhufalan. It is one of the oldest temples in China and it has been built 424 years earlier than Shaolin temple and 3 years later than Baimasi temple of Luoyang. The temple has over 40 rooms at the present, occupying a total area of approximately 5000 m2. There are a great many ancient pagodas, ancient trees and stone sculptures in the temple. Fawangsi temple has one of the great 8 scenery sites of Songshan scenery site, Songmendaiyue (Gate of Songshan Receiving Moon). The gate of Songshan, located on the top of the mountain on the east of Fawangsi temple is called as Yuejiashan Mt. (Moon Bracket Mountain) for its shape of having two parallel peaks. On the evening of Mid-Autumn Festival each year, when the bright moon rises and suspends in middle of the gate, people from different places gather together at Songshan with their family and friends, drinking, chatting, enjoying the beautiful sceneries and hating to leave. No wonder you could find people still lingering at Songshan even when the moon has jumped out of the gate. Songmendaiyue has become one of prime scenery sites of Dengfeng and has been entitled as First Scenery Site of Songshan in ancient China.