The temple, originally named Foshan Temple, dates back to 1308 and was built during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty the emperor named the temple Xianghai Temple - and this name is still used today.
Over the centuries the temple has been damaged, burnt down, rebuilt multiple times. During the Cultural Revolution the temple was repurposed.
It has recently undergone a complete reconstruction. Construction is still ongoing in some areas (as of May 2025).
The temple is relatively large and the main hall upon entering looks just magnificent.