Religious sites in Henan Province

Sacred Sites of Significance

Henan province serves as a spiritual crossroads, housing the birthplace of Chan Buddhism at Shaolin Monastery and the ancestral burial site of General Guan Yu at Guanlin Temple. The region's architectural diversity spans from the massive Spring Temple Buddha at Foquan Temple to the Song Dynasty-era Daxiangguo Temple. This collection highlights significant religious landmarks, including historic mosques in Kaifeng, Taoist shrines, and the Gothic-style Sacred Heart Cathedral, reflecting centuries of multifaceted faith traditions in central China.

Sacred Sites of Significance — Map

Zcm11 / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Shaolin Monastery

Shaolin Monastery, also known as Shaolin Temple, is a monastic institution recognized as the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of…

Gisling / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Guanlin Temple

The burial site of General Guan Yu's head, featuring Ming and Qing dynasty architecture. It is unique for its 'forest' (lin) status, a title typically reserved for the burial grounds of sages.

Windmemories / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Kaifeng Sacred Heart Cathedral

A Gothic-style Catholic cathedral completed in 1919. It serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Kaifeng and remains the largest Christian church in Henan province.

D

Jiang jun miao

A traditional temple located near the Songshan mountain range, dedicated to a regional general.

E

North Mosque

Also known as the Beida Mosque, this historic site features traditional Chinese courtyard architecture combined with Islamic prayer halls, serving Kaifeng's Hui community.

F

Gen qin ge

A temple and pavilion in Gushi County dedicated to ancestral worship and the cultural roots of regional clans.

G

Kaifeng East Mosque

A prominent mosque in Kaifeng known for its traditional Chinese architectural style and its role as a religious center for the local Muslim population.

H

Ancient Guanyin Temple

A historic Buddhist site in Kaifeng dedicated to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

I

Tu de miao

A local Taoist shrine dedicated to the Earth Deity (Tudigong), representing traditional folk religious practices.

J

Foquan Temple

Home to the Spring Temple Buddha, a 128-meter tall copper statue of Vairocana Buddha. The temple complex includes a massive bronze bell weighing over 100 tons.

K

Yu huang gong

A Taoist temple dedicated to the Jade Emperor, featuring traditional mountain-style architecture.

L

Taiqing Temple

A historic Taoist temple located in Lushan, traditionally associated with the philosopher Laozi.

M

Xiangshan Temple

Situated on the eastern hill of the Longmen Grottoes, this temple dates to 516 AD and was frequently visited by Empress Wu Zetian.

N

Lingquan Monastery

Known as the 'First Temple of the Central Plains,' this site features extensive stone carvings and pagodas dating back to the Eastern Wei and Northern Qi dynasties.

O

Daxiangguo Temple

A key Buddhist temple from the Northern Song Dynasty. It houses a famous four-sided, thousand-hand Guanyin statue carved from a single ginkgo tree trunk.

P

City God Temple

A traditional temple dedicated to the city's protective deity, featuring architectural elements from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Q

Xiaonanhai Ancient Temple

A Buddhist site near Anyang featuring cliffside grottoes and stone carvings from the Northern Qi Dynasty.

R

Xiangquan Temple

A Buddhist temple known for its proximity to a scenic mountain spring and its collection of historic stone inscriptions.

S

South Xiangtang Temple

Part of the Xiangtangshan Caves complex, this temple contains significant Buddhist cave art and sculptures from the 6th century.

T

Taiping Buddhist Temple

A Buddhist temple situated in the Linzhou region, serving as a center for Zen practice in a mountainous setting.

Other Lists

Henan Province: Essential Historical & Cultural Treasures China's Heritage Treasures China's Natural and Historic Wonders Cultural Heritage Sites