Chongqing Hongen Temple: A Qionglou Observation Deck Suspended at the Top of the Urban Forest

The Name of Hong'en - The Warm Background of Filial Piety Legend
The origin of the name 'Hong'en' can be traced back to a heartwarming folk legend. According to legend, during the Ming Dynasty, there was an official named Zhang Penghui (some say a local filial son) whose mother was seriously ill. He searched for medical treatment everywhere and prayed to the heavens here, hoping to shorten his own life to extend his mother's years. His filial piety moved heaven and earth, and his mother eventually recovered. To repay the kindness of heaven and earth, he donated funds to build a temple, named "Hong'en Temple", which means "great kindness". Although the ancient temple has been lost in the long river of history, this place name that carries the spirit of filial piety and gratitude has been passed down, injecting a unique humanistic temperature into today's forest park.

 The Road to Reshaping - From Wilderness and Forest Land to Urban Green Heart
The modern transformation of the Hong'en Temple area is an epic ecological construction that has evolved from a forest on the outskirts of the city to a core area for cultural and leisure activities for citizens
Historical Landscape: The area was originally a hilly forest in the main city of Chongqing, and the former site of the ancient Hong'en Temple is no longer traceable, but its place name and spiritual connotation have been preserved.
Planning and Construction (early 21st century): With the rapid northward development of Chongqing city, in order to provide high-quality ecological leisure space for citizens, the Chongqing municipal government has decided to build a large urban forest park here. Around 2008, the park began large-scale construction.
The Rise of Hong'en Pavilion (2010s): As the finishing touch of the park, the planning and construction of Hong'en Pavilion were put on the agenda. This antique style pavilion is not a restoration of ancient architecture, but rather uses modern materials and technology to inherit the essence of Ming Dynasty architectural style, aiming to create a cultural landmark and viewing platform. Its design is exquisite and magnificent, quickly becoming one of the iconic buildings in Jiangbei District and even Chongqing City.
Openness and Fame: After the completion and opening of the park and Hong'en Pavilion, it quickly became a popular destination for local residents and foreign tourists due to its unparalleled scenic views and beautiful ecological environment. Especially its positioning as the "highest observation deck in the main city" makes it an irreplaceable place to appreciate the three-dimensional landscape of the mountain city.

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 Natural Creation - The Four Seasons Rhythm of Green Lungs in Mountain Cities
The Hong'en Temple Forest Park itself is a huge "urban green lung", with its natural landscape flowing with the seasons, providing a rich background for high-altitude sightseeing.
Forest oxygen bar and ecological trail: The park has dense vegetation and extremely high green coverage, with hundreds of thousands of trees such as ginkgo, camphor, and nanmu. Multiple winding trails shuttle through the forest, making it an excellent place for citizens to exercise, take a walk, and take a "forest bath" in the morning. The process of hiking to Hong'en Pavilion is itself a refreshing lung cleansing journey.
Osmanthus themed Kingdom: The park is one of the most comprehensive specialized gardens for osmanthus in China, with nearly 10000 osmanthus trees planted, including golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus, osmanthus, and four season osmanthus. Every year around the Mid-Autumn Festival, osmanthus blooms in the garden, and the fragrance floats for several miles, forming a unique scenic spot of "Hongen Autumn osmanthus", which is a famous place for appreciating osmanthus in Chongqing.
Multi dimensional viewing platforms: In addition to Hong'en Pavilion, the park has also cleverly set up multiple viewing platforms. During the climb, fragments of Chongqing's urban landscape can be captured at different heights and angles, from buildings hidden in trees to panoramic views that suddenly open up, the visual experience progresses layer by layer.

Humanistic Craftsmanship - Contemporary Creation of Qionglou Yuyu
Hong'en Pavilion is a concentrated embodiment of the humanistic spirit of the entire park, and its architecture and landscape design embody the fusion of tradition and modernity.
The construction method of Hong'en Pavilion - the crown of the main city: This seven story imitation Ming style tower, about 50 meters high, is the absolute core of the park. It is not a historical relic, but its architecture is strictly regulated. carved beams and painted rafters and arch of wooden architecture cornices reproduce the atmosphere and beauty of official buildings in the Ming Dynasty. Climbing to the top of the pavilion, the 360 degree observation corridor makes one feel like standing in the center of the city, overlooking the mountains and rivers.
Ascending the pavilion for sightseeing - panoramic decoding of the three-dimensional mountain city: Here, tourists can gain the most intuitive understanding of the geographical pattern of Chongqing. To the north, you can see the modern building cluster of Guanyinqiao commercial district. To the east, you can overlook the winding Jialing River and the skyline of Yuzhong Peninsula on the opposite bank. To the west, you can overlook Shimen Bridge and Shapingba District. To the south, you can see landmarks such as Jiangbeizui Central Business District, Chongqing Grand Theater, and Raffles City. When the weather is clear, the view is extremely broad.
Cultural embellishment and night scene project: The park is scattered with cultural relics such as gratitude squares and stone carvings, echoing the theme of "Hong'en". The night lighting engineering of Hong'en Pavilion itself is particularly outstanding. At night, the pavilions are bright and magnificent, like crystal palaces suspended in the sky over the city. From the other side of the river or from a distance, it is a beautiful scenery in itself.

Photography tips:
The best shooting point for the panoramic view of Hong'en Pavilion is located on the observation platform on the south side of the park, which can incorporate the tower and the city background behind it into the picture.
City panoramic view: The top of the pavilion is the best location, and it is recommended to use a wide-angle lens to capture the colorful scenery of blue sky, sunset, and city lights in the clear evening weather.
Night scene shooting: A tripod with a small aperture is required to capture the starry effect. The warm lighting inside the pavilion contrasts with the cool toned city lights outside.
Osmanthus close-up: In autumn, use a large aperture lens to capture the osmanthus flowers hanging on the branches in backlighting. Dewdrops or rain can add more charm.

 Five Must Do Things to Unlock the Journey to Hong'en Temple
Ascend to the top of Hong'en Pavilion and take a panoramic view of the two rivers and four banks
Key: This is the core purpose of tourism. Be sure to climb up to the seventh level observation corridor, take a slow detour, identify city landmarks and mountains and rivers in all directions, and understand the unique geographical pattern of Chongqing's "mountains surrounded by water". Suggest combining maps or mobile location to deepen understanding.
Waiting for a sunset in the mountain city and the dawn of lanterns
Time: 1 hour before sunset to half an hour after sunset. Experience: This is the most beautiful moment of the day at Hong'en Pavilion. Watching the sunset set from the distant mountains, staining the clouds in the sky red, the city lights gradually lit up like a galaxy, and the Jialing River and Yangtze River turned into two golden streams, completing the visual transformation from natural magnificence to human brilliance.
Strolling through the forest park, indulging in a natural oxygen bar
Route: You can choose to climb along the main trail from the main entrance of the park to Hong'en Ge, or choose the quieter mountain path. Experience: Temporarily away from the hustle and bustle of the city, breathe fresh air in dense forests, listen to bird songs, and feel the rare tranquility and natural vitality in the city.
Autumn Fragrance Search, Check in Osmanthus themed Feast
Season: Late September to early October every year. Experience: Strolling in the Guihuayuan area of the park, you don't have to search for it deliberately, the rich fragrance of osmanthus will guide you. Carefully observe the colors and shapes of different varieties of osmanthus flowers, and feel the poetic meaning of "dense green leaves and ten thousand yellow flowers blooming".
Shoot a large film that blends classical and modern elements
Clothing: You can wear Hanfu or modern minimalist clothing, walk in front of the red walls, blue tiles, carved doors and windows of Hong'en Pavilion, and take photos with a strong sense of time and space collision against the backdrop of modern cities.

Tourist Route Suggestions
Half day "essence climbing" tour (suitable for people with tight time):
Enter from the east or north gate of the park from 3-4 pm in the afternoon, then follow the main trail or sightseeing lane to enjoy the garden landscape along the way (about 40 minutes to 1 hour), arrive at Hong'en Pavilion, visit layer by layer and climb to the top (1-1.5 hours of sightseeing), wait for sunset and night view at the top of the pavilion (about 1 hour), enjoy the lit Hong'en Pavilion when night falls, and then go down the mountain to leave the park.
IntoTravelChina tip: This itinerary focuses on high-altitude sightseeing. During holidays and weekends, there are more tourists visiting the pavilion in the evening. It is recommended to learn about the passenger flow situation in advance and plan the best arrival time through us.
One day 'deep leisure' tour (recommended for leisure tourists):
Morning: Enter from the main entrance of the park, take a leisurely stroll, and deeply explore attractions such as Guihuayuan, Grateful Spring, and Sculpture Area. Have lunch at the tea club or restaurant in the park.
Afternoon: Choose a longer hiking route to surround some parts of the park and appreciate the appearance of Hong'en Pavilion from different angles. Start climbing Hong'en Pavilion later in the afternoon, avoiding the hottest period and directly connecting to the sunset viewing.
Evening: After descending the mountain, you can go to the nearby Guanyinqiao commercial district to enjoy delicious food and experience the bustling urban nightlife of Chongqing.
Advantages of IntoTravelChina: We can plan the most comfortable hiking path for you, recommend rest areas and dining options within the park, and provide detailed interpretation guides for viewing landmarks, allowing you to not only see the scenery, but also understand it.

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How to reach: Seamless Connection Guide
Hongen Temple Forest Park is located in the main urban area of Chongqing, with convenient public transportation.
Public transportation (preferred): Take Chongqing Rail Transit Line 3, get off at "Huaxin Street" or "Guanyinqiao" stations, transfer to buses (such as 631, 847, etc.) to "Hong'en Temple Park" station; Alternatively, take Line 5 and get off at the "Dashiba" station, then walk or transfer to a bus to reach the destination. Multiple entrances are covered by buses.
Self driving/taxi: navigate to "East Gate of Hong'ensi Forest Park" or "North Gate of Hong'ensi Forest Park". There are parking lots around the park, but parking spaces may be tight on weekends and holidays. It takes about 15 minutes to take a taxi from Guanyinqiao commercial district.
Important reminder: The park has a large area, and climbing to Hong'en Ge requires some physical strength. There is also sightseeing bus service in the park, which can directly reach the vicinity of Hong'en Pavilion from some of the gates, suitable for the elderly and children.

 Best Travel Time
Hongen Temple can be visited in all seasons, but autumn (September November) is undoubtedly the peak of comprehensive experience, followed by sunny spring and winter weather.
Autumn stunning season: At this time, the sky is clear and the visibility is the best, making it the best time to climb high and look far. In addition, the osmanthus flowers are in full bloom in the park, overflowing with fragrance, achieving a perfect combination of visual, olfactory, and refreshing feelings.
Spring Fresh Season (March May): The climate is mild, and the garden is lush with new greenery, adorned with spring flowers, making it a great time for hiking and walking.
Winter Bright Season (December February): Chongqing is often foggy in winter, but if there is clear weather, the air is clear, the view is excellent, and there are relatively few tourists.
Summer onion season (June August): The vegetation is most lush, but the weather is hot and climbing is more difficult. You can choose to visit in the morning or evening, and pay attention to heatstroke prevention.

 Accommodation Options
Guanyinqiao commercial district (preferred, extremely convenient)
One of the busiest business districts in Chongqing, offering a full range of choices from luxury hotels to boutique homestays, with top-notch dining, shopping, and entertainment facilities. It is very convenient to take a bus or taxi to Hong'en Temple Park (10-20 minutes by car).
Suitable for almost all tourists, especially those who value convenience in life and nightlife.
Along Jiangbeizui/Beibin Road (with both landscape and convenience)
The hotels in this area are of high quality, with many rooms offering direct river views. The environment is relatively quieter than Guanyin Bridge, and it is also convenient to go to Hong'en Temple and other scenic spots in Jiangbei.
Suitable for tourists who have high requirements for accommodation landscape and quality.
Shapingba or Yuzhong District
Wide range of choices, suitable for tourists planning to travel in depth in multiple districts of Chongqing. But traveling from these areas to Hong'en Temple requires cross district transportation, and the commuting time is slightly longer (30-40 minutes).

IntoTravelChina accommodation booking recommendations:
Hongen Temple Park itself is not an overnight scenic spot, and accommodation choices are entirely based on your overall itinerary in Chongqing. By booking with us, we can match you with the most convenient and cost-effective accommodation based on the key areas you plan to visit, such as Jiangbei, Yuzhong, or night scenery, and package your itinerary accordingly. >>Click to contact IntoTravelChina travel consultant

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