Huayan Monastery is one of the most prestigious Buddhism temples across the country. Emperors in the Liao Dynasty sincerely believed in Buddhism, so they built many monasteriesThe Huayan Monastery was originally the ancestral temple of the imperial family, offering sacrifices for emperors of the Liao Dynasty. In the middle period of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the temple was divided into two parts, the upper and lower monasteries and was renovated and enlarged several times to its present form.
Huayan Monastery was once an imperial ancestral temple enshrined the statues of emperors. In(1644-1911), Huayan Temple was destroyed oncerepaired for several times later to present situation. Today, though the upper and lower monasteries become in one, their individual main hall and features remain.
The Upper Huayan Monastery is a Mahavira-Hall-centered architecture complex with Gate Hall, corridor hall, Dizang Hall and two courtyards. The Bhagava Sutra Hall, built in 1038,the sutra hall since its completion. And all 38 wooden sutra cabinets are in pavilion style; in thewall is another wooden overhanging pavilion. These ingenious wooden structures and carvings are of significant scientific value in the researches of ancient Chineseart. In the hall, there are also 31 perfectly preserved statues made in Liao Dynasty, two of which are especially praised by both experts and visitors with slender and graceful shape, vivid expressions and great artistic values.