The Yen Tu historical relic occupies nearly 20 kilometers of Quang Ninh Province’s Uong Bi District. It was listed as a national relic in 1974 and as a special national relic in 2012. Most of the pagodas, temples and towers are located on nearly 2,800 hectares in the Yen Tu Forest Natural Reserve which boasts a diverse tropical ecosystem. The Lan Temple is a major site in the complex.

In photo: A four-ton pair of Chinese-styled stone lions in front of Lan Temple in Thuong Yen Cong commune, Uong Bi city, Quang Ninh province. Inside the temple are about 20 other exotic animal statues. According to monks, these statues were donated by Buddhist followers five years ago.

Foreign-styled stone animal statues are also placed at the main sites of the temple. These statues are said to be unicorns.

There are four stone animal statues at the main hall.

A pair of big stone lions of nearly 5 tons and 4m high in the Lan Temple.

In front of the entrance of the Phuc Nghiem pagoda in Xuan Son commune, Dong Trieu district, Quang Ninh stands a pair of Chinese-styled stone lions. They have been there for 10 years.

The European-styled stone lions at the Ba Vang Pagoda in Quang Trung Ward, Uong Bi City.

The Temple of Cai Bau in Van Don district with four foreign-styled stone animal statues.

According to the plan announced by Deputy Minister of Culture Dang Thi Bich Lien last August, all foreign-styled animal statues must be removed from historical and cultural relic sites before the Lunar New Year (February 2015).