Temple of Azure Clouds
 Generally considered the most magnificent of all the temples in the Westem Hills,the temple was built during the Yuan Dynasty and established its reputation during the Ming Dynasty. It was a favorite retreat for emperors and their concubines and was thus expanded in Emperor Qianlong's reign. Early this century, the temple was the original burial place of Dr. Sun Yatsen. His coffin was later moved to the city of Nanjing,but a memorial tomb still remains here.
The temple was built on six different levels, and each of the interconnecting courtyards has a special character. The Hall of Five Hundred Arhas is modeled on the Jingci Temple in Hangzhou. The figures, all 15 meters high, with their unique expressions and appositive stand in rows throughout the building, are shaped like a Greek cross. |
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