Lesser-known attractions in Dali, a lesser-known temple that locals visit!

Guanyintang in Dali is a lesser-known temple that locals visit. I often pass by it when taking a taxi in Dali, but today is the first time I went inside. The temple looks ancient, but some buildings should be newly built. Guanyintang is related to Guanyin Bodhisattva and has the legend of "carrying stones to stop soldiers." Guanyintang is located between Xiaguan and the ancient city, in Guanyintang Village, Wuliqiao Township, Dali City, 9 km from Xiaguan and about 5 km from the ancient city of Dali, on the west side of the Yunnan-Tibet Highway. It is one of the famous ancient Buddhist temples in Dali. The entire architecture of Guanyintang is rigorous and orderly, with majestic halls; the courtyard is lush with trees and flowers; the pavilion is filled with incense smoke and the sound of wooden fish. It is not only a place where pilgrims gather but also a place where literati and scholars travel. Guanyintang was built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. While repairing the Guanyin Pavilion, the main hall was built, forming a seven-bay, three-sided closed, front-opened Mahavira Hall. Subsequently, a complex of buildings including a stage, gate tower, hall, and pavilion was gradually formed, incorporating various activities such as sacrifices, song and dance performances, and markets, but then gradually declined. After more than ten years, it was finally rebuilt in 1988. There is also a beautiful legend about Guanyintang. It is said that during the Han Dynasty, soldiers invaded Dali, and Guanyin Bodhisattva transformed into an old woman, carrying a large stone with a grass rope on the road and met the enemy soldiers. The invading soldiers were very surprised and thought: The old woman here has such great strength, let alone the young and strong? So, the enemy soldiers did not dare to invade again and retreated. This is the famous legend of "carrying stones to stop soldiers." Later generations built a Guanyin Pavilion on the stone to commemorate Guanyin's protection of the country and the people, with a statue of Guanyin inside, and then expanded it into Guanyintang. Every year on the 19th day of the second, sixth, and ninth lunar months, the local Bai people hold a grand Guanyin Festival at Guanyintang to commemorate the great kindness and virtue of Guanyin Bodhisattva.