Situated in the southwest of Datong, Shanxi Province, Huayan Monastery, named after the Huayan sect of Buddhism, is a complex of the Upper Huayan Monastery (Shang Hua Yan Si), also called the Great Temple of Treasure(Da Xiong Bao Dian) and the Lower Huayan Monastery (Xia Hua Yan Si).

The Upper Huayan Monastery is considered to be one of the two biggest Buddhist halls existent in China. And it was built under the Liao Dynasty in 1062. The Monastery suffered from a severe damage in the last years of the Liao and yet it was restored by the Jin in 1140. Unlike the most temple buildings in China which face southward, the main building, the Great Temple of Treasure, faces to the east. The legend goes that Qidan, an ancient tribe appeared in 400 B.C. in the northern China, had a popular custom of worshipping the Sun. Later when they dominated the northern China, this practice influenced the Han people. There are five major Buddhas in the center of the hall, either side of which are 20 celestial warriors.

Other Famous Temples in China:
Fayuan Temple I, II, III        The Hanging Monastery        Songzanlin Monastery
Lingyin Temple I, II              Tanhua Temple I, II

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