According to Datong County Annals, “the temple was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), but was later ruined long and only its brick tower remained.”
The tower is the center of the temple. Other buildings include a Bell Tower, a Scripture Hall, a Giant Buddha Pavilion and two Side Halls. They are arranged in line from south to north.
The tower is mainly used for the collection and worshipping of the bone relics of the eminent monks. The original Buddhist temples are called pagoda temples, for the pagoda is the most important building. To better protect this precious temple derived from early Tibetan Buddhism, the city government reconstructed Fahua temple to its original state in 2008.