A captivating journey to Sichuan's Bao'en Temple

Located in Pingwu, Sichuan, Bao'en Temple is a historic and culturally rich ancient temple with over 600 years of history, often referred to as the "Forbidden City of the Deep Mountains." The temple's architecture is entirely constructed using precious camphor wood, making it a rare "all-camphor wood structure" in the country. With 36 types of dougong (traditional Chinese architectural brackets), it boasts the highest variety among ancient buildings in China, earning it the nickname "Museum of Chinese Dougong." Inside the Great Compassion Pavilion, there is a 9-meter-tall Thousand-Armed Guanyin statue, intricately carved from a single piece of golden camphor wood. Additionally, the temple houses approximately 450 square meters of Ming Dynasty murals, which are vibrant and colorful. The recommended sightseeing route starts at the mountain gate and follows the central axis to visit major structures such as the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion. Visitors can also explore auxiliary buildings like the Great Compassion Hall and the Huayan Hall on both sides. Access: From Chengdu, take a long-distance bus or train to Pingwu County, and then use a taxi or bus to reach Bao'en Temple. Admission: Entrance fee is 40 yuan, with free admission for seniors over 60 years old and children under 1.2 meters tall. Opening hours: 08:30–17:00 (last entry at 16:30).