High above the town of Tonghai, at the very peak of Mount Xiu, sits Yongjin Monastery. Its name translates to 'golden lotus springing from the earth,' a nod to the mountain's unique topography. Visitors reach the complex after a steep ascent, arriving at a broad stone terrace that offers sweeping views of the shimmering waters of Qilu Lake below. Covering more than six thousand square meters, Yongjin is the largest and highest architectural grouping on the mountain.

The approach to the main gate requires navigating a dramatic shift in elevation. Nine semicircular stone steps draw visitors inward and upward toward an asymmetrical mountain gate. Beyond this entrance, the terrain rises sharply again, managed by a series of high platforms and stairways that split and converge along a central axis. At the heart of the complex stands the Ancient Cypress Pavilion. Built entirely of wood without a single iron nail, its framework relies on a sophisticated system of interlocking joints. This structural ingenuity allowed the pavilion to survive the devastating 1970 Tonghai earthquake completely intact. Recent studies date its core structure to the Yuan Dynasty, making it a rare surviving specimen of early southwestern Chinese timber framing.

Yongjin Monastery is equally defined by its ancient vegetation. The grounds hold the 'Three Wonders of Mount Xiu': towering cypresses planted during the Song Dynasty, fragrant firs from the Yuan Dynasty, and white magnolias dating to the Ming Dynasty. These massive trees cast deep shadows across the courtyards, their trunks requiring four or five people to encircle. Tucked away in the left wing is a secluded space marked by a small plaque reading 'Come Here.' Inside this courtyard within a courtyard, magnolias, peonies, and herbaceous flowers bloom in quiet isolation.

Founded in the thirteenth century, the monastery reached its zenith during the Ming and Qing dynasties, earning the title 'Great Temple of Central Yunnan.' Today, it remains an active site of Buddhist worship. The scent of incense drifts through the halls, accompanied by the steady rhythm of chanting monks and the deep resonance of temple bells. The complex functions as a living institution, preserving centuries of devotion, architectural mastery, and botanical heritage.