Lingguang Temple

Lingguang Temple sits on the hillside above Meizhou in the Yinna Mountains, a Buddhist monastery that has occupied this site since the Tang dynasty. The climb to the main hall is steep enough to feel like an effort and rewarding enough to justify it: the views from the upper terrace back over the Mei River valley and the surrounding forested hills are the best vantage point accessible from the city.

The temple complex is in active use by Buddhist monks and laypeople, and the incense smoke from the main halls drifts down the mountain on still days. The surrounding mountain has several hiking trails that connect to other peaks and viewpoints — the full circuit takes half a day. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.

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A story
The most peculiar feature of Lingguang Temple is a single "neuter tree" (阴那山) that has stood within the courtyard for over a thousand years. The tree reportedly casts no shadow in certain lighting conditions and emits no heat-detectable infrared signature — claims that have been investigated by scientists without definitive explanation. Whether or not you believe the stories, the tree is extraordinary: a gnarled survivor of a thousand years on a hillside, wider than a man can embrace and still producing foliage.

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