Dragon Gate In the Western
Hills
Lying 15 km west of Kunming City, the
Dragon Gate in the Western Hills is close to the west shore
of the Dianchi Lake. It consists of the Sanqing Temple Complex
and the Dragon Gate Grotto Complex. The buildings of the
Sanqing Taoist Temple are arranged in nine tiers: They are
the Lingguan Hall, the Chunyang Pavilion, the Sanqing Hall,
the Yuhuang Temple, the Taiqing Palace, the Zhenwu Hall,
the Luzu Temple, the Qisheng Temple, Lingxiao Pavilion,
the Laojun Pavilion and the Taiji Palace. The Dragon Gate
Grotto Complex, on the other hand, includes Lanhaichu, the
Ciyun Cave, the Yunhua Cave and the Datian Pavilion.
The marvelous Dragon Gate Grotto Complex
was accomplished through 72 years hard work.(1781-1853).
Its consists of 3 parts: a stone archway, a platform, a
stone room and a number of sculptures, all carved out of
the same rock. It is both the summit of the grotto and the
highlight of the grotto as well. The characters "Longmen-Dragon
Gate(the sign of the Dragon Gate)" are inscribed in
red and gold upon the arch.On the left,a platform surrounded
by a stone railing is the ideal place to welcome the wind
and to view the bold cliff. When looking far into the distance
by the railing, one will be carried away by the beauty of
the misty, 500 hundred square kilometers Dianchi Lake: the
glistening waves, the sailing boats, the green mountains
and the floating clouds.The elevation of the Dragon Gate
is over 2,300 meters, 300 meters higher than the water surface
of the Dianchi Lake. The scene is well noted for its dangerousness
and uniqueness.
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