Dajue Temple: At the Millennium-Old Temple, Collecting the Wrinkles of Time

Passing through the lush hills of Beijing’s western suburbs, the red walls and gray tiles of Dajue Temple gradually appear among the pine waves. This ancient temple, founded during the Liao Dynasty, lacks the hustle and bustle of the Forbidden City but holds the most touching "texture of time," with every corner serving as a natural frame for travel photos.

Walking along the bluestone path, the first thing you encounter is the millennium-old ginkgo tree beside the mountain gate. If you visit in autumn, golden leaves cover the ground, and sunlight filters through the branches onto the vermilion doors. Wearing a plain cotton-linen dress and standing under the tree, you don’t need to pose deliberately; just press the shutter as the wind stirs the leaves, capturing a poetic scene of "deep autumn at the ancient temple." In spring and summer, the ginkgo’s lush branches complement the wisteria and crabapple blossoms inside the temple. Moss on the green tiles glistens with morning dew, and when the lens zooms in, even the time in the cracks between bricks comes alive.

The must-visit spot is the "Minghui Tea House" beside the Hall of Infinite Life Buddha. Under an ancient locust tree stands a bamboo tea table. Brew a pot of the temple’s pre-Qingming tea, and the tea in the cup reflects the upturned eaves. When holding the tea, have a companion shoot from the side; amid the curling tea mist, the temple’s Zen spirit perfectly blends with the earthly warmth of daily life. On rainy days, raindrops fall on the bluestone slabs of the tea house. Holding an oil-paper umbrella and walking through the corridor, the moment raindrops drip down the pillars is like a scene from an ink painting of Jiangnan.

Behind the temple, Longtan Pond is an even more secretive photo spot. Mountain spring water seeps from the cracks in the rocks, forming a clear pond. The five-lobed maples by the pond change colors with the seasons: fresh green in spring, dense shade in summer, and fiery red in autumn. Squatting by the pond to shoot reflections, the temple’s flying eaves, drifting clouds above, and shimmering waves in the pond overlap, as if a millennium of time is contained in a pool of clear water.

Before leaving, don’t forget to take a photo under the "Dajue Temple" stone plaque at the temple gate. At sunset, the afterglow gilds the edges of the plaque. Behind you is the tranquility of the millennium-old temple, and in front is the moment captured by the lens. At this moment, travel is no longer just simple documentation but a gentle dialogue with time—the most beautiful scenery has always been found in the unhurried encounters.

Post by JamesonMcLeod84s | Aug 24, 2025