This attraction introduction is compiled from historical materials in the "Zhangjiajie Tour Guide Network" (33519.com · Scenic Spots section). Ticket prices, opening hours, transportation, and contact information mentioned in the text may be outdated. Please refer to the latest official announcements from the scenic area before traveling; some content consists of historical background/cultural introductions and is for reference only.
Located at an altitude of 1,227.3 meters on Chaotian Guan (Chaotian Temple), it was built during the Ming Dynasty. A stele inscription in the temple states: 'Since ancient times, although each dynasty has undertaken repairs, the years have passed and the ages have obscured them. Although Chaotian Mountain is rich, Chaotian Temple has long fallen into ruin.' 'During the Kangxi reign, there was a monk named Xingzuo who cut through thorns to climb Chaotian, dwelling in a thatched hut on earthen steps, and the temple began to regain its appearance.' At that time, the temple site was at the eastern end of the mountain ridge. In the 15th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1750), 'there was a monk named Zixin at Chaotian, and donors contributed to the reconstruction,' and the site was moved to the western end of the mountain ridge, 'the temple was built on the top of a sheer cliff, the hall leaned on the summit of a precipice.' The couplet on the mountain gate reads: 'The realm resembles Penglai, with rosy clouds hanging afar; the boundary connects to the heavens, with auspicious mists ever swirling.' The stele also records: 'The mountain is named Chaotian, meaning to look up and worship the vast heavens.' Later, through repairs during the Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Xuantong reigns, it grew to a scale of three courtyards and two halls with over 20 rooms, with a total area of over 1,900 square meters. Entering from the mountain gate, there is a long corridor, and all three terraced levels have temple rooms. The main hall enshrines Nüwa in the center, with the left and right halls enshrining Dimu Niangniang and Sanxiao Niangniang respectively, and the rear hall enshrining the Yashan Patriarch. There are also Guanyin Hall, Sutra Library Hall, and others. The temple is surrounded by layered stone walls, and the doors, windows, pillars, plaques, and deity pedestals are all embedded and built with rock, decorated with rich colors. In the final years of the Republic of China, the halls were destroyed due to bandits occupying the site. What remains are some stone walls and the mountain gate, with 17 doorway ruins and 42 broken steles.
