Huayan Temple, Mahavira Hall

Mahavira Hall is the largest surviving Buddhist temple in China. Its foundations and 4-meter-high platform date back to the Liao Dynasty, while the wooden temple structure is a reconstruction from the Jin Dynasty in the Liao style. Both the special shaped Humen gates (壸门) and the 4.50-meter-high glazed gargoyle on the main ridge are among the oldest of their kind. Of particular note is the extremely spacious interior, which was achieved by using a special technique to reduce the number of columns, allowing twelve columns to be removed. Its magnificent ceiling and five deity statues date from the Ming dynasty, while the murals are from the Qing dynasty.