Nanshan Temple
南山寺
A temple built into the hillside about 3 km south of Taihuai Town, with seven tiers of courtyards, renowned for its exquisite stone carvings and known as Mount Wutai’s treasury of stone-carving art.
Nanshan Temple lies on a hillside about 3 km south of Taihuai Town. It consists of three parts: Jile Temple, Shande Hall and Youguo Temple. It was first built in the Yuan dynasty, and most of the surviving structures date from late Qing and early Republican reconstructions. The temple is arranged in seven tiers of courtyards that rise with the mountain. From the gate, you climb stone steps past a wealth of white marble and bluestone carvings. The railings, screen walls and stone pillars are covered with figures, stories, flowers and birds, with exquisite craftsmanship. From the heights you can look down over the Taihuai valley. There are many steps, so some stamina is needed. Entry requires the Mount Wutai scenic area mountain-entry ticket, subject to official announcements. You can reach it from Taihuai Town by taxi or by scenic area transport, and it can be arranged together with Zhenhai Temple and Guanyin Cave.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–18:00 (follow temple notices)
Nearby sights
- Zhenhai Temple
- Shuxiang Temple
- Guanyin Cave
- Wuye Temple (Wanfo Pavilion)
- Tayuan Temple & Great White Pagoda
- Xiantong Temple
- Luohou Temple
- Yuanzhao Temple