The original site of Baoguo Temple was Guanwang Temple. It is also a famous ancient temple by Dianshan Lake. It was built in the Ming Dynasty and renovated in 1640, the thirteenth year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty. To this day, a stone tablet from the Chongzhen period is still preserved in the temple. Because it enshrines Guan Yu, a famous general of the Three Kingdoms, it is named ‘Guanwang Temple’. More than a hundred years ago, Guanwang Temple had extremely prosperous incense and unprecedented Buddhist activities. Later, due to several wars, most of the buildings were destroyed. By the end of the 1940s, only the east and west halls remained. There were two stone tablets and a large bronze bell in the hall. There was a golden Amitabha as big as a thumb on the bell. The golden Amitabha glistened with golden light and was priceless. Later, it was stolen. The bronze bell was also destroyed in 1958. Thus, most of Guanwang Temple was damaged and the incense gradually declined. However, people have not forgotten the grand occasion of Guanwang Temple. An ancient ginkgo tree behind the temple is a witness to history. In the early 1980s, Guanwang Temple was renovated again and the incense became increasingly prosperous. In 1989, Guanwang Temple was designated as a subsidiary temple of Shanghai Jade Buddha Temple and named Baoguo Temple. In 1991, a new Guanyin Hall was built, two stories high, with a construction area of 950 square meters. The upper floor is the Jade Buddha Hall, and the lower floor houses a camphor wood Guanyin statue more than twelve feet high. Now, Baoguo Temple covers a total area of 38.5 mu and has a construction area of more than 5,000 square meters. It is magnificent and filled with pilgrims, comparable to ancient temples in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Opening hours: From January 1st to December 31st, open from 07:30 to 16:00.
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