Temple de la Loyauté envers l'État

Baoguo Temple, set just inside the main entrance to Mount Emei, is the first major monastery most visitors encounter and the traditional starting point of any pilgrimage or tourist route up the mountain. Founded in the late sixteenth century during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, it serves as the gateway to one of Chinese Buddhism's four sacred mountains and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it is the logistical and spiritual base camp for the climb.

The temple's name plaque — Baoguo Si, meaning Temple of Serving the Country — was written by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty and is one of the most frequently reproduced images associated with Mount Emei. Within the wider mountain landscape, Baoguo serves as the Buddhist activity center of the scenic area: monastics are in residence, services run on the lunar calendar, and many pilgrims begin their climb with prayers here before ascending toward Wannian Temple and the Golden Summit.

The compound is laid out along a central axis, with successive halls rising gently up the slope. The Ming-era foundations remain visible in the stone bases and surviving structural elements, while the halls themselves have been restored across the Qing and modern eras. Inside, the main halls house large Buddhist statues, and side rooms display temple artifacts, calligraphy, and information on the mountain's history. The layout rewards a slow, sequential walkthrough — first the gate, then the Maitreya hall, then the main hall, then the higher terraces.

The surrounding gardens are a genuine pleasure. Old trees, bronze bells, incense pavilions, and stone paths give the grounds a calm, established feel that contrasts with the busy ticket and transport hubs just outside. Many travelers spend an unhurried hour here before the bus or hike up the mountain, and it is a popular place to light incense or simply adjust to the atmosphere of the sacred landscape.

For a Mount Emei itinerary, Baoguo Temple is best visited at the very start of the climb or as a peaceful evening stop on arrival in the Emeishan area. It pairs naturally with the nearby hot-spring resorts and serves as the clearest single introduction to the Buddhist dimension of the mountain. As the gateway to one of Chinese Buddhism's most important sites, it earns its place on every visitor's route.