It is the only major Chan Buddhist temple complex within the city proper of Ningbo.

It is listed as a "Han Chinese Buddhist Temple of National Significance".

During the Qing dynasty the temple was the site of the dissemination of the Linji school of Buddhism.

The temple was badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution; it was eventually restored and reopened in 1980.

In April 2017, the temple established a Buddhist library which is opened to public.