Brief information on Yufeng Temple  

Yufeng Temple is situated at the southern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and about 10 kilometers from Lijiang’s Old Town. Originally built in the last year of the Kangxi Region of the Qing Dynasty (1770), the temple is one of five significant temples in Lijiang. The temple is, however, noted for its ancient forests clustered around and its “King Camellia”.

The temple once had nine courtyards, but only the main hall and two courtyards remain after various wars throughout the years. The whole complex of the Yufeng Temple shows a unique architectural style by combining together the features of Han Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism and the local Naxi Dongba Religions. It is a historical witness of the peaceful coexistence and cultural communication over many years between different minorities and different regions.

It is said that the camellia tree here has a history of over 500 years. In reality, the tree was originally two different breeds of camellia, which as time passed, grew together into one, and finally grew into a huge tree with the crown shading the whole courtyard. In the eyes of the Naxi people, the great camellia is the symbol of true love. And the tree is believed to have a magical power in persuading the young lovers to cherish their love and enjoy a happy life. Late spring and early summer are the best times to enjoy the ravishing views in Yufeng Temple since the famous camellia tree is in full blossom in this period. The blossoming period of the camellia tree can last more than 100 days a year and produces more than 20,000 flowers in 20 batches, each batch with over 1,000 flowers. Stepping close to the huge tree, you will be plunged into an ocean of redolent and beauteous flowers.

*You can download the bilingual note to show it to a taxi driver or someone else to find your way to Yufeng Temple if you plan to visit Yufeng Temple and have language problems.