Founded in the Liang Dynasty (502-557), Linggu Temple was once a sprawling monastic complex where Buddhist monks studied in seclusion. Unfortunately most of the temple was destroyed in the  19th century Taiping rebellion-a small loss in a conflict that claimed over 30 million lives.
Among the temple's interesting features is a vaulted hall built in 1831, commonly called the "beamless hall" for the reason that unlike most Chinese buildings, it is built entirely of masonry. Originally a shine to the Amitabha Buddha, it was converted in 1928 into a shrine.
Linggu Pagoda is another notable structure. Built in 1928, it also commemorates the soldiers killed in the national revolution. It is a reinforced concrete and wood structure nine storeys tall. Tourists can climb to the top on a spiral staircase. |
