Bai Long Temple
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📍 Address: 180 meters east of the intersection of Penghe Road and Nansuo Street, Luoning County, Luoyang City, Henan Province
Bai Long Temple was originally constructed during the Great Zhongxian period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1008–1016), built in commemoration of the legendary "White Dragon Manifests Divine Power to Save the People." According to the Annals of Luoning County, during the Song era, the Luo River flooded repeatedly, causing great suffering among the local population. A villager claimed to have seen a white dragon soaring through the sky to protect the river embankments, prompting the construction of the temple in his honor. The temple underwent major renovations during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, with the most extensive restoration occurring during the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty, establishing its current layout.
The temple faces south, built into the hillside, covering an area of approximately 2,300 square meters. The extant structures reflect Qing Dynasty architectural style, comprising a mountain gate, bell and drum towers, main hall, side halls, and a corridor lined with steles. The main hall features a single-eaved hip roof with a dougong timber frame, tiled with blue tiles, adorned with exquisite ridge decorations. Beneath the eaves hangs a plaque inscribed “Divine Protection for All Living Beings.” Inside, a statue of the White Dragon deity is enshrined, while murals on the side walls depict the “White Dragon Saves the People,” rendered in a simple, ancient brushwork and subdued colors, demonstrating significant artistic value.
Bai Long Temple stands as a typical example of the fusion between folk belief and water management culture in western Henan Province. Its traditional rituals continue to be observed today, culminating in an annual temple fair held during the second month of the lunar calendar—“Dragon Head Raising Day”—featuring rituals such as rain prayers, dragon dances, and folk performances. This event has been designated a Intangible Cultural Heritage Project of Luoyang City.
✨ Tip: Behind the temple, a slope is home to several ancient cypress trees, believed to have been planted in the early Song Dynasty over a thousand years ago—adding a scenic highlight to the site.