Built during the Tang Dynasty, the Yuantong Temple is a very famous Buddhist shrine in Kunming, China. Unlike other temples where you ascend the path from the gate towards the temple entrance, you descend along a path towards the Yuantong temple entrance. The path is lined with gigantic, ancient cypress trees on both sides that give the place a serene and peaceful look. Notable are the statues of Mahavira, Sakymani, Amitabha, and the Medicine Buddha from the Yuan Dynasty in the Mahavira Hall. There is an artistically designed fish pond in the Hall with a beautiful stone bridge. The 500 Arhats (gurus) carved into the walls have lively expressions.
