Shenshou Temple:an ideal summer resort for the elderly

Speaking of temples in Yiwu, Shuanglin Temple in Fotang is well-known to all Yiwu people, but another one named Shenshou Temple, which has a history of more than one thousand years, may be strange to many young people, so its origin and attractive scene are of course unknown to them, let alone its ideal function as a place for summer leisure. Actually, it won’t take you long to acquaint yourself with it-half a day is enough .

Located at Folong mountainside in Xiayan, Chengxi Subdistrict, Shenshou Temple is about 20 km away from downtown Yiwu. Driving on the mountainside road which runs along the bank of Changyan Reservoir, you will see the beautiful scene of Changyan reservoir, with the cool breeze on the water making you refreshed .

When you arrive at the foot of Fulong Mountain, which is located at the end of the reservoir, a grand stone torii will come into your eyes, on which the word ‘Shenshou Temple’ in Seal Character tells you that Shengshou Temple is around the corner. With about ten minutes ‘car journey, Shenshou Temple suddenly appeared out of the green mountain. It’s said that the temple was built in Tang dynasty. It was used to be a tranquil resort with clear brooks, odd-shaped stones, dried pine roots and green moss, where Song Lian, Fang Xiaosu and other famous scholars of Tang dynasty used to write books or gave lectures. As time passed , Shenshou Temple was dismantled and rebuilt for several times . The present temple with four joss houses and a nine-storied stupa was built a couple of years ago. Now historic sites as Shenshou temple stele, stone carved Buddhist arhat ,s tone carving chair and Bairu spring still exist in the temple . The biggest wonder is the ancient arhat pine tree behind the temple which was reborn after its death .

With its beautiful scenes of mountains and water, Shengshou Temple is also an ideal summer resort with a geographic advantage. The warden of Shengshou Temple tells that there are more than thirty long-term residents who live after-retirement life here. And there are also 84 guests--who want to escape summer heat, staying in the temple for a couple of days or a month .

I am chatting with the warden when the distant sound of drum beats comes into my ears . I turn to the place where the sound comes from and find half-dozen elders sitting around and enjoying huagu folk dance in a pavilion . I t may remind me of an activity organized by elders‘ union, but in fact it is a self-entertainment of some old people who come here for summer leisure . Grandma Wu is among them. She lives in Shengli Community and comes here for spending summer days, because she can’t stand the high temperature downtown and is not used to the air-conditioner . The air is fresh and cool here, she says . Although it’s hot outside in daytime, it’s cool indoors, particularly in the pavilion beside a stream and surrounded by trees. You will feel delighted in the cool breeze . The air here is healthier to old people than that in an air conditioned room.

“The water here is very good, even better than mineral water . Many people who live in the city come here to collect water home with buckets . “The water here comes from the mountain,so it is unpolluted. The long life of those retired elders is closely related to the water here . “An elder who lives in Shengshou Temple for a long time offers his introduction with smiles .