 Baoguo Temple, situated in the Valley of Lingshan Mountains, 15 kilometers to the north of Ningbo, is the oldest and most completely preserved wooden Buddhist building with a unique design and impressive vigor, dated to the Northern Song Dynasty in South China with over 970 years of age. Its roof was renovated in Kanxi 23rd Year and took the shape of gable and hip roof. Listed among the wonders of Chinese architectural civilization, the ancient palace is now as impressive as it used to be, and assumes high historic, artistic and scientific values. Its main characteristics include: the width of the palace (13.38m) is greater than its length (11.83m), in the form of a vertical rectangle; three perforated caissons are adroitly designed in its front hall ceiling; the intricate Dougong structure; four coated arrays columns with obvious flank feet at their bodies; a peculiar moon beam style with two folding shoulders. |
