Discover the Ruins of Baiya City and Gunv Temple in Midu County of Dali

To see the site of Whit Cliff City(白崖城遗址), nature will inevitably need to go to the Guni Temple (谷女寺) which is so-called the Valley girl of the Temple, according to the year of the Ming Emperor Shen Zhuzong (明万历)”Zhaozhouzhi” (《赵州志》)contained, was built no later than  time for the Ming Dynasty thirteen years (1585), so to say that Valley Temple is also the Ming Dynasty The building is also considered one of the ancient buildings in Mindu County (弥渡县).

Guni Temple is located behind Gucheng Village(古城村) of the Daying Village Committee(大营村) in Hongyan Town(红岩镇). For Guni Temple, there are also known as Tani Bird Temple(Guniao Temple 谷鸟寺) and Gumi Temple(谷米寺). The description of Tanijo Temple should be based on the fact that there are more cuckoos here; Gumi Temple has a saying that there is a spring in this temple and there is a valley of gurgling rice.

There is a historical legend behind the name of Gaoniang Temple (高娘寺).  A long time ago, there was a young girl named Gao, who was still unable to speak when she was thirteen years old. She suddenly said one day to her sister-in-law that she was two miles away. The elder brother from the army had no food. She gave her brother a meal. Lady Gao’s sudden opening speech surprised the family, but she did not believe her content and laughed at it. However, in the face of facts, she had to admit that Lady Gao’s powers enabled her to travel between her home and her brother’s army. Finally, on the day of her return, Lady Gao rode a white pig that she always shepherded with, and turned it into a vacated place. Lady Gao should be a valley girl. Different accounts and legends have added many mystical colors to the Gunv Temple.

After lunch, we met their friends and went to Gucheng Village(古城村), where White Cliff City(白崖城遗址) was located.

白崖城遗址除有白崖城外，还有。遗址石碑立在古城村海塘旁。

In the White Cliff City site, there is not just the White Cliff City, but also the Golden Temple site(金殿窝遗址). The ruins of the monument stand beside the Haitang Pond of Gucheng Village.

The stone tablets are divided into two sides, one side is to explain the site of the site, the other side because there is a ridge, coupled with strong vegetation, can not be approached to watch, the words on the stone are not clearly seen. The site is a provincial cultural relics protection unit. Although there are stone monuments, it is impossible to see the once-white cliff country from the current environment. The unearthed cultural relics were not present on the scene. Nowadays, they can only imagine the scene of the existence of the White Cliff Kingdom (白崖国) near the stone monument.

Gucheng Village, the village was named Ancient City. From local place in Midu County names to guess, since it is called the ancient city, there should have been an ancient city here. Next to Daying Village(大营村), the ancient camp should be a barracks, and the barracks next to the capital city also meet the principle of military strategic defense. The Haitang Pond in front of the village, as well as the lush trees and Sheep Cave Mountain behind the village, are backed by mountains, preceded by water, and there are barracks in front of the water, which also conforms to the ancient idea of establishing the capital.

Walk along the road near the Haitang Pond, we arrive in Guni Temple.The road was blocked  and we changed the other newly built road to Gunv Temple.

Walking along this road leading to the ancient city stone yard, we have been moving forward. The ancient city quarry has been abandoned for many years. It was the main supply of foundation stone in the rural areas of the Midu County and New Street districts more than 20 years ago.

The road is not very easy to go. There are many roads and gravel. After a few passes, you can see simple signposts and then turn around.

After turning the corner, keep walking, the road is not a good walk, gravel road, cycling should pay attention, drive carefully. Going to the front of the street sign prompting a sharp bend, you can see the Guni Temple.

谷女寺隐隐约约在葱郁的树林中显现，寺院周边的树木比较茂盛。谷女寺是隐在山后，藏在林中的清幽之地，怪不得明末清初，滇西一代高僧非相禅师在此十年修行。Gunv Temple is faintly visible in the lush forests. The trees around the temple are lush. Guni Temple is a secluded place hidden in the mountains and hidden in the forest. No wonder the late Ming and early Qing Dynasty, a generation of monks and non-essential monks from the west of Fujian used to practice in this decade.

On the right side of the road is the field behind Gucheng Village. The cry of cuckoos in the fields came to the eye. It was a fertile land. The terraced fields took care of the entire workmanship, and it was a lively elephant. This capital, it should also be here to see the mountains and rivers, fertile land it!

In addition to the call of cuckoos, the sound of water from the woods was heard from afar. When I was a child, on the fifth and fifth of May, it is also the Dragon Boat Festival(端午节), Gunv Temple Fiar (谷女寺庙会)were visited here during the Spring Festival. At that time, there was a lot of water flow.

When you enter the gate, you will see a Buddhist word(佛) far away. The trees are lush, the air is fresh, and there is a feeling of entering the natural oxygen bar.

After strolling over the small stone bridge, you can step up the ladder. On both sides of the ladder are dense trees. Next to a small house, you can see various types of trees in the house. You feel as if you have entered the old forest.

There were sounds of water in the forest, but there was no way to see where the water was. The trickling water came from the roots of the trees. The dense leaves covered the streams.

If you are climbing up to this point, you can rest here at the gate to breathe this oxygen-enriched air and listen to the birds singing between the cormorants and the forest. It is also a rare enjoyment!

Into the monastery, the first thing you can see is the huge rock under the Guanyin Pavillion(观音阁), and Mahavira Hall(大雄宝殿) in the distance. For the memories here are more than 20 years ago, now repaired, give a good feeling.

It is Dragon Poll or Longtan on the right. Longtan has been reconstructed and there is a difference between memory and memory. It seems that there is no pond in Longtan and it is not clear. It has not come for many years. It has changed a lot.

The above “Tiankai Xuanqiao”(天开玄竅) Carvings roughly means that here is more mysterious than Xuan, indicating that here the mysterious and spring charm, fuzzy memory, also called here as Shuilian Cave(水帘洞), but unfortunately do not remember. The person who did this stone carving should quote this poem. Heavenly days Xuan Zang teaches Ming Yin, Nature has created such a magical Guigu cave that allows Guiguzi to teach a large group of disciples here.

上面“天开玄竅”，大概意思就是指此处比较幽玄，说明此地的幽玄和泉水的灵韵，模糊记忆中，也有称此处为，可惜不记得了。做此石刻的人当时应是引用此诗吧。天开玄窍授名贤，地涌灵泉在里边。万古水甘帘不卷，有谁读易绝韦编。

The word “Zhuo Ying or 濯缨” which means washing the crown, is also found on the left side of the stone wall. After the search, this word comes from the “Midu Guni Temple”(《弥渡谷女寺》), a poem written by Miyato-chan in the Dali Dynasty. 

‘comparing with Guni Temple, all the views are desolated, everywhere there is similar to Penglai Wonderland; cliffs are Poetic, the water is clean and can wash crown. The smoky od surround trees, the sunset illuminate half the river; it is time to leave but still turning back reluctantly. It makes Midu more mysterious  ’ The poem  here : 弥渡谷女寺诺天从落莫，此地即蓬赢；峭壁堪题韵，寒泉可濯缨。野烟千树暝，落日半川明；欲去重回首，弥增更隐情。

The water in Longtan River emerges from the mountains and irrigates the ancient city until the Hongyan Basin area(红岩坝子). The water here should be there very early. White Cliff State may be involved in the construction of this spring, and the constant spring water will be used to irrigate Liangtian. The food is sufficient and it is also suitable for the survival and development of the tribe.

Next to it is the renovation merit tablet of Gunv Temple, inscriptions mobile phone pictures are unclear, but from the number of merit monuments, many people are willing to pay homage to the merits of Gunv Temple in the heart of Hongyan people(红岩人民).

In the distance is the newly built rest corridor. Gunv Temple serves as a place for quiet summers. The corridor is also built to make it easier for people to come and have a place to rest. The guardian of the monastery said that people come here every day, and there are also law fairs. The most grand temple fair is on the Dragon Boat Festival.

Go to the temple main temple, next to the Guanyin Pavilion. The repaired pavement looks neat and tidy. The wood next to the visitors for a short while is also quite characteristic.

Guanyin Pavilion is a spectacle. The loft is built on a rock called Lotus Rock(莲花岩). If you want to build a temple here, you should also experience a lot of hard work!

On the lotus rock of Guanyin’s face, there are many branches propped up. When I was a child, I listened to the old man and said that without these branches, the lotus rock would loosen. These branches were all cast by the gods.

The inscription on the lotus rock is that Guanyin Pavillion of Gunv Temple was listed as a county-level cultural relics protection unit by the People’s Government of Midu County in 1983. As such, there are two cultural heritage protection units near Gucheng Village, one at the provincial level and one at the county level.

Mahavira Hall(大雄宝殿), basically every temple, and the Mahavira Hall is an important part of each temple. After the restoration, the main hall is very impressive.

It is a favourite to see ancient buildings because there are few arts in today’s buildings. The traditional ancient buildings contain the craftsmanship of many craftsmen. Although they are rebuilt, they are also worth a visit!

After visiting Mahavira Hall(大雄宝殿), Guanyin Pavilion was said to be an eye-opener in Guanyin Pavilion and a survey of the Michuan Dam (弥川坝子).

To the side of the stone staircase next to the lotus rock(莲花岩), actually planted a fleshy lotus. Lotus is related to Buddhism and Guanyin Bodhisattva(观音菩萨) sits above the lotus. The lotus flower next to lotus rock is really clever.

Walking on the stone staircase, suddenly turn back, the temple hidden in the quiet, quite Lingyun of the gas, the dynasties of the temple site are very particular about, Xuan Xuan should be the key to siting it!

There are two stone products on the roadside. The first one is called the pier(柱墩) and the second one is called the umbrella plate(伞盘). It used to build the building materials that the dwelling houses use to support the columns. Many years ago, many people in Gucheng Village(古城村) and Huacheng Village(化城村) beside Guzhen Temple were engaged in the production of these two types of building materials. Nowadays, people build houses that are concrete houses. These two types of building materials gradually exit the market. It is estimated that the young generation will rarely Made.

Entering Guanyin Pavilion, looking from different angles, you can clearly see the Michuan Dam(弥川坝子). The ground floor of Guanyin Pavilion is dedicated to the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva(地藏王菩萨) and the second floor is dedicated to the Bodhisattva Guanyin(观音菩萨). Because they are Buddhists, taking photographs of Buddha statues is very taboo, so they are not shown one by one.

Outside Guanyin Pavilion is a viewing platform. Many plants around the viewing platform grow around the attic, perhaps with reiki and buddha. The ambience and atmosphere of Zen are displayed around the attic.

The door is open and the windows can pass through. The Buddha Gate is an empty gate, and it may be that way. Such a place of seclusion and hiding behind the mountains, there is wind and water, and regardless of the year when Gu Mi Temple was built, it is possible to imagine how the Ancient City of Bai Ya was once there. It is also very important!

Source from: http://www.sohu.com/a/131801423_328899