Leiyin Temple was formerly known as Guanyin Hall. It is located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain (Echoing-Sand Mountai) next to Crescent Spring, 4 kilometers south of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. Dunhuang gains worldwide reputation as it is an important and representative city on the ancient Silk Road.
Covering an area of 300 acres, the temple has been reconstructed, repaired and expanded many facilities such as Shanmen, Tianwang Hall, Daxiong Hall and exhibition hall. It was restored in a style of ancient Tang Dynasty Buddhist temples. After expansion, it became the most important Buddhist venue in Dunhuang. On September 30, 2013, Leiyin Temple was rated as a National 3A Tourist Scenic Spot by the government.
The Dunhuang Leiyin Temple was built referring to the frescos in the 172 caves of Mogao Grottoes. Since the reopen of the Leiyin Temple, the locals and the tourists could worship Buddha and pray. The renovated temple also becomes the largest and most important Buddhist venue in Dunhuang.
The temple has no mountain gate. The first hall is the Maitreya Hall; the second is the Daxiong Hall. The two halls together with the two side rooms form a patio. In 1991, the Guanyin Hall was built behind the Daxiong Hall. This Guanyin statue in the Guanyin Hall is a cypress wood carving statue with a height of 4.8 meters. His two hands are folded on the chest with other thousand hands stretching side by side, forming a Falun, in a solemn and unique style.
History of Leiyin Temple
Leiyin Temple was formerly known as Guanyin Hall. The original temple was founded by the Zen Master Wuxia in 1527 during Ming Dynasty and reconstructed in 1884 during Qing Dynasty. Considering the meaning of "Buddha sound like thunder shock ", the temple was renamed as Leiyin Temple. The temple not only retained some of the architectural characteristics of the palace and government offices of Qing and Ming Dynasties, but also adopts some architectural features of residential houses. This temple, located in a high position, leaning on a dangerous cliff and slope, breaks the normal structure of the temple building. It is a delicate courtyard-style temple hidden in the lush jungle.