Hoonji is located in the northeast corner of the city. Its old names were Chongjiao Temple and Daozhen Temple, but it was changed to its current name in Hongwu period of Ming Dynasty. According to the Records of Shouzhou, this temple was built in Zhenguan period of Tang Dynasty (627-649 AD), with a history of 1300 years. The total area of the whole temple is 14700 square meters, which is second to none on the land of Jianghuai with its large scale and magnificent architecture.
Go to the end of Xiweisi Lane, and this is Hoonji. Enter Hongji Courtyard, cross the tall red wall and step into the mountain gate, that is, enter the Courtyard for the first time, where pine and cypress are lush. In the center of the courtyard is the Song Tower Underground Palace, which was originally a brick tower with nine levels of relics in the Northern Song Dynasty, but collapsed after six levels. The remaining three floors were demolished on 1977 because they endangered the safety of tourists. In the Qing Dynasty, the underground palace under the tower was discovered, which contained precious cultural relics such as painted murals and gold and silver coffins. Go through the second Buddhist temple and come to the second deep courtyard. Two thousand-year-old ginkgo trees cover the sky, hiding the magnificent Hall of Heroes and the East-West Gallery in the shade.