Qixia Temple (Temple where the Dawn Perches) was once one of the most important temples in central China. It was first founded in 489 by the Buddhist monk, Shao Shezhai, during the Six dynasties period of Chinese history (Southern Qi, to be specific) when the north of China was ruled by tribes from the steppes of Asia and Nanjing was the capital of the southern, ethnic Chinese state. The temple that now stands on this site was built during the late Qing dynasty, but there are several hundred small niche caves there that were carved ... (more)