Xuanguang Temple, located around 2.5 kilometers from Xuanzang Temple, was built around 1955. The relics of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang are enshrined here. Xuanzang was a famous Tang Dynasty Buddhist monk. By order of the Tang emperor, he was sent to India to seek Buddhist scriptures.
After more than 10 years, he returned to China, bringing back more than 650 sutras, and together with his disciples, he translated 75 of these. He also acquired 1,335 scrolls. His efforts made great contributions to the spread of Buddhism in China. During the war between China and Japan, a Japanese person managed to acquire a fragment of Master Xuanzang's bones from Nanjing. It was taken to Ci'en Temple in Japan's Saitama Prefecture, where it was enshrined. In 1952, this piece of bone was brought to Taiwan, and after Xuanguang Temple was built at Sun Moon Lake in 1958, Master Xuanzang's bone piece was placed there and enshrined.
This temple lies between Sun Lake and Moon Lake. Inside is a golden idol of Master Syuanzang, above which is written, "Great National Scholar". A wharf has been built by the water, with its back to the mountains. Visitors can take a boat to this wharf, where they can then ascend the stairs to visit the temple.
Qinglong Mountain Trail
The trail begins from the pier of Xuanguang Temple to Xuanzang Temple and it is 560M long. Tourists can visit the temples via the trail, thus it is also regarded as a "Pilgrim Path".