Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple

After descending Qingyuan Mountain, we found a ginger duck restaurant for lunch and headed straight to our last destination: Kaiyuan Temple.

Kaiyuan Temple is located on West Street in Quanzhou. It is a very important cultural relic on the southeast coast and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. Kaiyuan Temple was founded in the early Tang Dynasty, about 1,400 years ago, and is a real thousand-year-old temple. The twin towers of Kaiyuan Temple are one of the symbols of Quanzhou. The Zhenguo Tower and Renshou Tower are two stone towers, commonly known as the East and West Towers. In addition, there is the Quanzhou Buddhist Museum (Master Hongyi Memorial Hall). In addition, we also visited the Ancient Ship Museum.

Kaiyuan Temple is located on West Street. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. The temple was founded in 686 in the early Tang Dynasty and was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the 26th year of Kaiyuan (738). Later, it was destroyed several times due to fire and war. The main existing temples were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. There are two famous stone pagodas here, the "Zhen Guo Pagoda" in the east and the "Renshou Pagoda" in the west. They were originally wooden pagodas and were built during the Tang Dynasty. After several destructions and reconstructions, the wood was replaced by bricks. In the Southern Song Dynasty, the bricks were replaced by stones. The height of each pagoda is more than 40 meters. It is the tallest pair of stone pagodas in China. The east pagoda was also selected as one of the four famous pagodas in China in 1997. It can be called the "King of Stone Pagodas". It is worth mentioning that since February 2015, Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou responded to the initiative of Mr. Zhao Puchu, former president of the Buddhist Association, and many well-known Buddhist masters, ending its 37-year ticket sales history and implementing a free ticket system.

I particularly like Kaiyuan Temple, which is an eye-opener. It is simply the king of mix and match among Buddhist temples, integrating stone carvings and wood carvings in Indian, Chinese and European styles. The well-preserved Song Dynasty stone pagoda and the majestic Zhenguo Pagoda, the tallest marble pagoda in China. It is full of traces of time, and people can feel the openness and diversity of the city of Quanzhou after seeing it. I will ask my friends to come here if I have the chance in the future.

The two hours in Kaiyuan Temple made me feel the most deeply about the Li Shutong Museum. Li Shutong's vision and influence on the history of art, education, and screenwriting are unprecedented. He devoted himself to art in his early years and converted to Buddhism in his middle age. I was deeply attracted by this talented man of the Republic of China and was reluctant to leave the Master Hongyi Museum for a long time. From a man in the secular world to a monk, Master Hongyi had too much wisdom and insights, and the Kaiyuan Temple Museum records his legendary life.

Kaiyuan Temple is also the largest Buddhist temple in Quanzhou. Hundred-year-old trees are not uncommon here. Respecting tree gods is the consensus of Quanzhou people. Even if you visit in the cold winter, the weather in Quanzhou is still green and shady, attracting tourists to take photos with these old trees. When I took a taxi, the driver told me that the trees here must be protected. Trees are alive. They have become spirits after hundreds of years. If someone cuts them down and slaughters them, the trees will cry. I smiled slightly, but the driver said it very seriously.

There were not many tourists in Kaiyuan Temple in the early morning. There were believers burning incense, old people chatting under the Bodhi tree, citizens doing morning exercises, birds singing from time to time, and monks seen occasionally, which made people feel peaceful and harmonious.

The most famous buildings in Kaiyuan Temple are the two towers, Zhenguo Tower and Renshou Tower. The two towers have a history of nearly 1,400 years. It would be great to take aerial photos of them with a drone!

As the largest Buddhist temple in the southeast coast, Kaiyuan Temple has experienced more than a thousand years of development. In addition to the main Buddhist buildings, traces of Taoism, Brahmanism, and even Christianity can be found here. The stone pillars of the Great Hall are carved with myths and legends from the ancient Indian Mahabharata and Ramayana; the sphinx on the Sumeru pedestal originated from ancient Egypt.

The history of Kaiyuan Temple can be traced back to the 2nd year of Chuigong in the Tang Dynasty (686 AD). It was originally named Lotus Temple, and after several name changes, it was renamed "Kaiyuan Temple" according to the imperial edict in the 26th year of Kaiyuan in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (739 AD) and has been used ever since. It is said that this place was originally the mulberry garden of Huang Shougong in the Tang Dynasty. A thousand years ago, he donated land to build Kaiyuan Temple. He and his descendants were revered as the Lord of Tan Yue, and Kaiyuan Temple was also named "Mulberry Lotus Dharma Realm".

On Saturday morning, Kaiyuan Temple was crowded with monks, pilgrims and tourists, just like a market, very lively. The busiest time is the 26th day of every lunar month, which is the Buddhist Day of Kaiyuan Temple. From Kaiyuan Temple through West Street to the Bell Tower, people are shoulder to shoulder, which is a unique bustle in Quanzhou.

Kaiyuan Zhenguo Zen Temple is located on Kaiyuan Road, Chaozhou City, covering an area of ​​78,000 square meters. It was formerly known as Lifeng Temple. Kaiyuan Temple was built in the 26th year of Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty (738). It was renamed "Kaiyuan Wanshou Temple" in the Yuan Dynasty and "Kaiyuan Zhenguo Zen Temple" in the Ming Dynasty. It is also called "Zhenguo Kaiyuan Zen Temple" and "Wanshou Palace" was added. It is commonly known as "Kaiyuan Temple" and has been used until now. It is a national key cultural relic protection unit. It is a relatively complete quadrangle-style Buddhist building complex: the Vajra Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Great Hall, and Sutra Library are arranged in sequence on the central axis.

To the east are the Ksitigarbha Pavilion and the guest hall.

To the west are Guanyin Pavilion, Liu Zutang, etc.

Surrounding it are buildings such as the Guanyin Pavilion, Ksitigarbha Pavilion, Zhike Hall, Weituo Temple, and Xiangji Kitchen.

The main building is the Mahavira Hall, which stands in the center of the temple;

The Three Buddhas are enshrined in the hall. In the middle is Sakyamuni Buddha from the Pure Land, to the east is Medicine Buddha from the Eastern Pure Land, to the west is Amitabha Buddha from the Western Paradise, and on both sides are statues of the Eighteen Arhats of Xingtai.

The architectural structure of the "Hall of Heavenly Kings" in Kaiyuan Temple is a rare treasure. After research, contemporary architect Professor Long Qingzhong concluded that the Hall of Heavenly Kings is a relic of the Song Dynasty at the latest.

incense burner

The cultural relics room displays the second year of Taiding in the Yuan Dynasty (1325).

The large incense burner, which looks like a meteorite, is six-layered and round, 1.4 meters high and weighs 950 kilograms. The bottom layer has eight animal heads as the base, the second layer is octagonal, and is carved with eight reliefs of sika deer, the third and fifth layers are carved with lotus petals, the fourth layer is spherical and has a golden waist, and the sixth layer is the top layer of the body, with a perfect round rim, 84 cm in diameter and 18 cm high. It is engraved with a relief of flying figures, and the inscription on the mouth of the furnace reads: "In the second year of Taiding in the Yuan Dynasty, on the eighth day of the second month of the year Yichou, Xu Zhen, the official in charge of Lianzhou and the governor of the state, donated a stone incense burner to the Kaiyuan Wanshou Zen Temple in Chaozhou Road for permanent offering."

Kaiyuan Temple is so big! Many tour groups are explaining here, so I followed the tour guide sister

, you won’t know until you listen....

Opposite the back door are two columns that combine Chinese and Western styles.

It has existed since the Yuan Dynasty, with a history of at least 600 years, and is purely hand-carved.

The story about the patterns on the two pillars...

Brahma, Hinduism believes that humans were created by Brahma, but Brahma has no reproductive ability. Hinduism talks about the idea of ​​"karma and reincarnation", which is one of the differences from Buddhism.

Then walk back... It is said that the mulberry tree that has bloomed white lotus and lived for more than 1,300 years was split into two parts during a thunderstorm. Now both parts are evergreen bodhi trees that have been around for 63 years. It was under the bodhi tree that Sakyamuni attained enlightenment...

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is an important cultural relic on the southeast coast of my country. It is also the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. It is located on West Street, Licheng District. It was built in the second year of Chuigong in the Tang Dynasty (686 AD) and has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is famous at home and abroad for its magnificent scale, spectacular architecture, beautiful scenery. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province and was once as famous as Luoyang White Horse Temple, Hangzhou Lingyin Temple, and Beijing Guangji Temple. In March 1982, it was listed as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 1986, it was rated as one of the top ten scenic spots in the province. Later, it was selected as one of the 22 world heritage sites in Quanzhou. Tickets are free and the opening hours are 6:30-17:30. No. 176, West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City. The existing Kaiyuan Temple is 260 meters long from north to south and 300 meters wide from east to west, covering an area of ​​78,000 square meters. Its architectural layout is divided into three parts: the central axis has the Zhao Wall (Purple Cloud Screen), the Mountain Gate Hall, the worship pavilion, the east and west corridors, the Great Hall, the Ganlu Ordination Platform, and the Sutra Library; the east wing has the Tanyue Temple and Zhunti Temple; the west wing is the Merit Hall, the Zunsheng Courtyard, the Shuilu Temple, the Wuguan Hall, and the Hongyi Master Memorial Hall. The towering Zhenguo Tower and Renshou Tower tower high on the east and west squares, forming a rigorous, symmetrical, magnificent and magnificent architectural complex.

Kaiyuan Temple was first built in the Tang Dynasty and was originally named Lotus Temple. In the 26th year of Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty (738 AD), Emperor Xuanzong ordered that a Kaiyuan Temple be built in each state across the country, so it was renamed Kaiyuan Temple. It is an important cultural relic on the southeast coast and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. It is a great place to learn about Quanzhou's Buddhist culture.

Admission is free, opening hours: 6:30-17:00. No. 176 West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City.

Kaiyuan Temple is located on West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City. It was built in the second year of Chuigong (686) during the reign of Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty, and has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is an important cultural relic on the southeast coast of China and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. The east and west towers in the temple (Zhenguo Tower and Renshou Tower) are the tallest existing pair of stone towers in China and are known as the "King of Stone Towers".



1. Traffic strategy:

Public transportation: Bus lines 2, 3, 6, 14, 15, 17, 19, 26, 32, 40, 601 and many others can reach Kaiyuan Temple. Taking the bus not only allows you to enjoy the scenery along the way, but also allows you to feel the life atmosphere of Quanzhou city.



Taxi or online car-hailing: If you are in a hurry or have a lot of luggage, taxi or online car-hailing is a good choice. In any place in Quanzhou city, as long as you open the mobile phone app, you can easily call a car and take you directly to the gate of Kaiyuan Temple.



Self-driving: If you are a traveler who likes to travel independently, self-driving to Kaiyuan Temple is also a good way. You can set off at any time according to your schedule, which is convenient and free. However, please note that when parking around the temple, you must park according to the signs and the instructions of the management staff to avoid traffic congestion. In addition, parking spaces are limited, so it is recommended to park in the surrounding shopping malls, which usually cost 5 yuan per hour.

Kaiyuan Temple is located in Xijie, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. It is an important cultural relic on the southeast coast of China and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. The temple was founded in the second year of Chuigong in the early Tang Dynasty (686).

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province and an important cultural relic on the southeast coast of China.

The stone plaque "Wanshan Diyi" in Kaiyuan Temple has its unique historical origins. According to research, the four characters "Wanshan Diyi" were written by Huang Zhilin in imitation of Mi Fu's three characters "Diyishan" and the addition of the character "Wan". Huang Zhilin was a native of Jinjiang in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He was a Jinshi in the Dingyou (1657) and Wuxu (1658) years of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. He served as an editor of the National History Museum, a bachelor of imperial studies, a junior secretary, and the governor of Huguang. He was very knowledgeable. It is said that he used 100,000 sheets of paper to write the character "Wan" well before he finally delivered it satisfactorily.

Kaiyuan Temple was founded in the second year of Chuigong in the early Tang Dynasty (686 AD). It was originally named Lianhua Daochang and was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the twenty-sixth year of Kaiyuan (738 AD). It was the largest and most officially prominent Buddhist temple in Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan Dynasties.

Coming out of the ancient city of Chongwu, I went straight to Kaiyuan Temple, which is Fuzhou's business card. It was the Spring Festival, and I found a huge crowd of people here. It felt like the whole Quanzhou and people who came to Quanzhou came here to pray and burn incense. It was so lively. The most famous thing about Kaiyuan Temple is the two stone towers in the east and west. They still stand tall after being attacked by wind and rain, and are the unique symbol and symbol of the ancient city of Quanzhou.

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple has a long history and was first built in the Tang Dynasty. The legend of a mulberry tree blooming with lotus in a dream and the glory of Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan dynasties add romance and glory to this temple. The temple covers a large area and has the typical shade of trees in southern temples, which makes people feel like sitting under the trees and thinking.

Amid the crowds of people and cars, I saw the tower of Kaiyuan Temple for the first time. I felt how tall and big it was. It exuded an ancient and vicissitudes of life atmosphere, as if it came from the mortal world, full of mystery.

When you come to Xiamen, you must go to Quanzhou if you have time. After all, Quanzhou successfully applied for World Heritage status last year. After all, Quanzhou is very close to Xiamen, and it only takes half an hour by high-speed train.



In one day, I went to Kaiyuan Temple▶▶▶ West Street▶▶▶ Tianhou Temple▶▶▶ Quanzhou Museum.



The first impression is that there are really many temples in Quanzhou. To exaggerate, there is a temple every five steps and a shrine every ten steps, and basically they are free to enter. In addition to the Kaiyuan Temple and Tianhou Palace that I have been to, there are also the Qingjing Ancient Temple, Guandi Temple, Chengtian Temple, etc. that are worth visiting.



The second is Quanzhou’s religious tolerance, where Buddhist culture, Minnan culture, Islam (Qingjing Ancient Temple), and Catholicism (Huaxiang Catholic Church) coexist in harmony and thrive forever.



Kaiyuan Temple, the most famous buildings in the temple are the two Song Dynasty towers, known as the East and West Twin Towers. They have withstood wind and rain for thousands of years and have stood the test of time, becoming a unique symbol of Quanzhou.



My understanding of the East and West Twin Towers comes from Yu Guangzhong’s poem “How many springs have the erythrina flowers bloomed for, and how many years have the East and West Towers faced each other”, and this is also my initial impression of Quanzhou.



Zhenguo Pagoda is the east pagoda. It was originally a wooden pagoda, then it was rebuilt into a brick pagoda, and finally it was rebuilt into a stone pagoda. The whole pagoda is a pavilion-style wooden pagoda structure, and the tower body is a variety of relief Buddha statues, symbolizing the world of Posada.



The west tower is Renshou Tower. Like the east tower, it is also a pavilion-style stone tower with an imitation wooden structure. It has withstood an 8-magnitude earthquake and is the tallest existing Song Dynasty stone tower in my country.

Kaiyuan Temple is the most famous Buddhist temple in Quanzhou and the largest in Fujian.



This ancient temple, which was first built in the Tang Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,300 years, has not only witnessed the prosperity and decline of Quanzhou, but also witnessed the changes of dynasties and the world after the Tang Dynasty. The blessing of a thousand years of time has made this temple extremely important in people's hearts. Therefore, when traveling to Quanzhou, you must go to Kaiyuan Temple, no doubt about it.



Kaiyuan Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, but it does not charge admission, which has attracted more people to visit.



Kaiyuan Temple is an important cultural relic on the southeast coast of China and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. The temple was founded in the second year of Chuigong in the early Tang Dynasty (686 AD) and was originally named Lianhua Daochang. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the 26th year of Kaiyuan (738 AD). Kaiyuan Temple covers an area of ​​78,000 square meters. It is large in scale, magnificent in structure and beautiful in scenery. It is as famous as Luoyang White Horse Temple, Hangzhou Lingyin Temple and Beijing Guangji Temple.

The two stone towers and buildings have red tiled roofs, and the banyan trees and roads fill the picture. The colors of Quanzhou appear so intuitively. The place with the most green is Kaiyuan Temple, the temple with a plaque of Ziyun written on it last night.

Flying across the sky, I saw from different angles that the architectural layout of Kaiyuan Temple is still symmetrical along the central axis. There are also several red buildings on the right side facing the street, and I don’t know what they are used for.

Kaiyuan Temple is an important cultural relic on the southeast coast of China and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. The East and West Pagodas in the temple are one of the landmark buildings in Quanzhou, and the Great Hall is also worth seeing.

Kaiyuan Temple was first built in the second year of the Tang Dynasty's Chuigong reign (686 AD), and was initially named "Lotus Temple". In the first year of the Changshou reign (692 AD), it was renamed Xingjiao Temple. In the first year of the Shenlong reign (705 AD), it was renamed "Longxing Temple". In the 26th year of the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan reign (739 AD), Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered all states in the country to build a Kaiyuan Temple, so the temple was renamed to its current name. In the 22nd year of the Yuan Dynasty (1285 AD), 120 temples were merged into one, and it was named the Great Kaiyuan Wanshou Temple.



Kaiyuan Temple now covers an area of ​​80,000 square meters and is the largest temple in Fujian Province. It is large in scale, magnificent in structure and beautiful in scenery. It is a national key cultural relic protection unit and a key Buddhist temple in the Han area of ​​the country. It is also a national 4A-level tourist attraction.



It is truly conscientious of Quanzhou to open such a fine cultural relic to the public for free.

Kaiyuan Temple is located in Xijie, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province. Kaiyuan Temple ranks first among many Kaiyuan Temples in China. It is an important cultural relic in the southeast coast and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. The temple was founded in the second year of Chuigong in the early Tang Dynasty (686 AD) and was originally named Lianhua Daochang. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the 26th year of Kaiyuan (738 AD). The existing main temples were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is 260 meters long from north to south and 300 meters wide from east to west, covering an area of ​​78,000 square meters.

There are countless Kaiyuan temples in China, and the same goes for those with pagodas inside, such as the Sumeru Pagoda in the Kaiyuan Temple in Zhengding, Hebei.

The Kaiyuan Temple in front of us is the largest temple in Fujian.

The Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou is magnificent and unique in style. The temple is 260 meters long from north to south and nearly 300 meters from east to west, covering an area of ​​nearly 80,000 square meters. Most of the buildings in the temple are in the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty, with double eaves and brackets, carved beams and painted buildings. The central axis is the wall, the Heavenly King Hall, the worship pavilion, the east and west corridors, the Great Hall, the Ganlu Ordination Platform, and the Sutra Pavilion. On both sides are the Donyue Temple, Zhunti Zen Forest, Merit Hall, Zunshengyuan, and Shuilu Temple.

After arriving in Quanzhou, we checked into the Overseas Chinese Mansion and then rode to Kaiyuan Temple. The temple was magnificent, majestic, and full of Zen. After a year or two, I still remember the impression of sitting on the corridor and feeling the sounds of the temple.

The website shows that it opens at 8am, but it actually opens at 6am. I crossed West Street at 6am (West Street is a commercial snack street at night and a small commodity market in the morning, with people coming and going, which was unexpected), and saw uncles, aunts, grandpas and aunts constantly entering the temple with incense or offerings. I thought I came early enough, but I didn't expect that there were already so many people inside. There were people burning incense, doing morning exercises (yes, you read that right, several groups of people doing morning exercises inside), and people queuing up with bowls to eat the breakfast provided by the temple. Because of the rush of the schedule, I could only rush to see it for half an hour, which was a pity. Many temples have culture, history and artistic attainments, but this is the first time I have seen a temple that is not only in the downtown area, but also so closely connected with the lives of the people. Quanzhou people get up in the morning, first come to the temple to burn incense and do morning exercises, and then buy breakfast at the door to go home, which is very touching.

The core cultural relic attraction in the center of Quanzhou City has many attractions. The two stone pagodas are the largest imitation wood-structured stone pagodas in China. There are extremely exquisite flying apsaras in the main hall, and the pillars behind the hall have rare Hindu stone carvings in China. There are also mulberry trees from the Tang Dynasty and ancient ships from the Song Dynasty... It is a must-see place for tourists to Quanzhou.

Kaiyuan Temple is another must-visit place in Quanzhou! The landmark East and West Towers are in Kaiyuan Temple. Kaiyuan Temple is easy to find, located on West Street, and there is no ticket, it is free to visit. I personally think that the attractions in Quanzhou are too conscientious. Except for the Qingjing Mosque, which charges a few yuan for tickets, most of the historical sites are free!

Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou is located at the top of the Damingding Mountain. There is no one to take care of the tickets when entering through the back door. It should be a free park. It was founded in the second year of Chuigong in the early Tang Dynasty (686 AD) and was originally named Lianhua Daochang. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the 26th year of Kaiyuan (738 AD). The main existing temples were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1982, Kaiyuan Temple was listed as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units. The twin towers of Kaiyuan Temple are the tallest pair of stone towers in China. They survived the 8-magnitude earthquake in Quanzhou during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and many typhoons, but they still stand tall. The tower bodies of the twin towers are exquisitely carved with reliefs. Kaiyuan Temple is a must-see attraction in Quanzhou.

Recognize the inscription on the plaque of the main hall; the harmonious coexistence of Hindu relics and Buddhist architecture; look for the "Wukong" who existed before the writing of "Journey to the West".

The largest temple in Quanzhou, a must-see attraction in Quanzhou

Quanzhou is a city with history and a Buddhist city.

On both sides of the courtyard are ancient banyan trees about 800 years old, with their intertwined roots and shades, which are impressive.

The most important attraction in Quanzhou, without a doubt, is the Zhenguo Tower, which can be seen throughout the entire West Street.

Kaiyuan Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty. The flying figures inside are very beautiful and the East and West Towers have a very long history.

Chouchou's father believes that the three wonders of Kaiyuan Temple are: the flying musicians in the Main Hall, the Ganlu Ordination Platform, and the mulberry and lotus relics.

A must-visit place in Quanzhou, a famous ancient temple in Fujian

The twin towers here carry a lot of history.

The most famous scenic spot in Quanzhou City, the main entrance is West Street, and opposite is the old streets and alleys of the ancient city. It is a place suitable for walking tours.

The entire temple building and the ancient pagoda have typical Tang Dynasty architectural features. The main hall is magnificent, and the ancient pagoda is exquisitely built, simple and beautiful. It is worth a visit.

It is quite large, and there are two stone pagodas inside which are cultural relics. It is right next to West Street.

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is an important cultural relic and historical site on the southeast coast of China and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province.

The ancient and strong flavor of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou is a small scenic spot. No tickets are required.

Very old and full of history. Great!

It was raining when I went there, so the temple was very quiet and had a very ancient feel. The layout of the east and west twin towers is rare in China, and the towers are beautifully shaped. It is refreshing to walk around it, and you must not miss it when you go to Quanzhou.

Located in the downtown, but very quiet, the temple has two towers, the landmark of Quanzhou, and the Quanzhou Bay Ancient Ship Exhibition Hall and the Hongyi Master Memorial Hall. West Street is just outside the door, and there are many delicious foods.

All the temples in Quanzhou are free, which is really great.

The transportation is very convenient and suitable for walking.

The intensity of the incense was beyond my imagination. I looked at the vegetarian food but didn't feel like trying it.

Camellias, cherry blossoms, and osmanthus flowers bloomed at the same time, so magical... There is also a post office inside where you can send postcards

I had a glimpse of the East and West Towers a few years ago on a business trip. The weight and simplicity of the East and West Towers left a lasting impression on me. This year, I visited them again with my family and was still deeply moved. Kaiyuan Temple and the Twin Towers have a long history and contain a huge amount of information. You must read more information before you go, so as not to return empty-handed.

See Xi'an underground and Quanzhou's landmarks above ground! The East and West Towers, the Sanglian Dharma Realm! Outside the long pavilion, beside the ancient road, Master Hongyi is here. The main hall is not the traditional Zen Mahavira Hall, but the Sanglian Dharma Realm where the five Buddhas are worshipped together! It has a long history and is harmoniously integrated!

Kaiyuan Temple is a temple with a very long history in Quanzhou, especially the East Tower named "Zhenguo Tower". This stone tower built in the Song Dynasty has long been included in the history of ancient Chinese architecture.

It's very big and the overall feeling is good. But there are not enough toilets. You have to wait in line and it takes a lot of time. There are many parking lots around. It only costs 8 yuan to park for several hours in Zhongmin Parkview. It's very cheap.

It's free. I went in to help digestion. I ate too much in West Street. It's bigger than Kaiyuan Temple in Chaozhou.

In my opinion, architecture is indeed a solidified art. The stone tower has been passed down for thousands of years and the touching moments will last forever. The two towers are similar in shape, but their temperaments are very different, one is majestic and solemn, while the other is benevolent and dignified. The grandeur of the central axis palace makes people feel that life is insignificant. What is the difference between me and a turtle or a fish in the release pond?

The facade of Kaiyuan Temple is not very eye-catching, but the flying swallowtail ridge and various exquisite sculptures tell us that we are now in southern Fujian. Walking around Kaiyuan Temple, you will see beautiful buildings and courtyards, and the style of southern Fujian is very obvious.

Kaiyuan Temple is worth exploring, and the 10 yuan ticket is very affordable.

The architecture of Centinard is also very wonderful

Kaiyuan Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. It was founded in the second year of Chuigong in the early Tang Dynasty (686 AD) and was originally named Lianhua Daochang. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the 26th year of Kaiyuan (738 AD). The main existing temples were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is very gratifying that since February last year, Kaiyuan Temple has stopped selling tickets and is open to the public for free. Amitabha



Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Longji, built many temples in the mountains and rivers across the country, all of which were called Kaiyuan Temples. Today, 1,300 years later, most of them have long disappeared in the long river of history, but the Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou has become one of the few that has remained faithful to its name.

The layout of Kaiyuan Temple is as follows: the central axis runs from Ziyun Screen, Tianwang Hall, worship pavilion, east and west corridors, Daxiong Hall, Ganlu Ordination Platform to Sutra Repository. The east wing has Donyue Temple, Jataka Hall, Quanzhou Buddhist Museum (Master Hongyi Memorial Hall), and the west wing has Nursing Home and Shuilu Temple.



Kaiyuan Temple was originally the property of Huang Shougong, a wealthy man in Quanzhou. Later, it was donated to be used as a temple. In front of the temple stands a stele with the inscription "Ziyunping". Ziyun is the name of Huang's descendants.

Legend has it that it was built during the Tang Dynasty. Anyway, it's only 6 bus stops from West Lake Park. You can't enter after 6pm. It's recommended to go early, otherwise the photo effect will be bad. It's quite big inside.

"This place was called the Buddhist Kingdom in ancient times, and the streets are full of saints." This is a couplet in the Heavenly King Hall of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, written by Zhu Xi, a great Neo-Confucianist in the Song Dynasty. When Kaiyuan Temple was rebuilt in 1925, this couplet was also rewritten by Master Hongyi who lived here.

A quiet place in the bustling city, with red walls and flying eaves, ancient banyan trees blocking the sun, and the "Zhen Guo Pagoda" and "Renshou Pagoda" under the shade of green trees, all tell its history and past. Just sitting on the ground can wash away all the restlessness and anxiety. There are not many tourists in the temple, but most of them kneel down devoutly.

Kaiyuan Temple seemed so peaceful and tranquil in the early morning. An old man was practicing Tai Chi leisurely under the shade of the banyan tree. The pigeons in front of the main hall were running around in the small courtyard, not afraid of people at all. The grandma in the kitchen was cooking delicious vegetarian meals. The old lady downstairs was leisurely fetching hot water... Time seemed to have frozen at that moment.

Kaiyuan Temple does not require a ticket. You can book a tour guide, which will be more vivid and comprehensive. Of course, there are QR codes everywhere you go, scan the code to listen to the explanation. Kaiyuan Temple has a history of more than 1,300 years. Walking around the gate, you will find a different world inside. Compared with the crowded West Street, this place is relatively quiet. Tourists and locals share the same attention.

The Hongyi Master (Li Shutong) Memorial Hall is located in the Zunsheng Courtyard of Kaiyuan Temple. It displays historical materials, photos, works and calligraphy of Hongyi Master, one of the pioneers of my country's New Culture Movement and a modern eminent monk, during his last 14 years in Quanzhou. After reading the four inscriptions of "Mixed Feelings of Sorrow and Joy" written by Hongyi Master a few days before his death, I felt indescribable emotions in my heart, as if I saw his life of devoting himself to cultivation, being willing to live in poverty, and worrying about the country and the people, which was as bumpy as the fate of the country.

I didn't go in because they didn't allow me to take photos inside the temple. The Buddha statues are all very big and the light inside is dim. It's actually quite scary to look at them. I'm not specific. I'm always very cautious when I go to various churches and temples.

Kaiyuan Temple is an ancient temple that you must visit in Quanzhou. It has a profound history and the area around the temple is very lively.

As soon as you enter Kaiyuan Temple, what catches your eye is the big banyan tree with a history of more than 300 years, which has experienced the wind, frost, snow and rain of history!

You can’t take photos in Buddhist temples, but the Kaiyuan Temple is really amazing. You must go and see it when you go to Quanzhou. The Confucian Temple, Kaiyuan Temple and Qingjing Temple are very close to each other, so you can go and see them together.

There is a post office in the temple, with a very unique mailbox where you can send postcards and send blessings to your friends at the same time.

It is an ancient southern Fujian city, and Kaiyuan Temple should be a must-see attraction.

There are quite a lot of places to visit in Kaiyuan Temple. You can look at the map to plan your route.

It is worth mentioning that the mailbox of Kaiyuan Temple is very interesting. When we almost finished visiting Kaiyuan Temple, it started to rain heavily. The sound of the rain and the bells at the top of the hour, sitting on the stone steps and watching the East and West Towers appear and disappear in the rain, is also a good feeling.

Kaiyuan Temple is well worth a visit. It houses an 800-year-old banyan tree, lifelike wood carvings of flying musicians and melodious birds. Photography is not allowed inside the temple.

It houses the Master Hongyi Memorial Hall and the Shipwreck Museum, and the East and West Towers are landmark buildings.

There are also many snacks on the pedestrian street outside Kaiyuan Temple, many of which are old shops.

Kaiyuan Temple is quite large and you can spend at least an hour there. Kaiyuan Temple gives people a sense of tranquility and is very peaceful.

A quiet place in the bustling city. The red walls and flying eaves, the ancient banyan trees that block the sun, all tell of its history and past. Just sitting on the ground can wash away all the restlessness and anxiety. There are not many tourists in the temple, but most of them kneel down devoutly.

If you visit carefully, it should take a long time. The red corridors on both sides of the temple are very beautiful.

The East and West Towers in the temple are the landmark buildings of Quanzhou. The towers cannot be climbed. There are exquisite carvings on the towers. From the mottled stone walls, I can feel the traces of time. Now I am observing this thousand-year-old temple, and my heart is warm and inexplicably intimate. In addition, there is an ancient ship exhibition hall in the temple, which introduces the development of maritime transportation in the Song Dynasty.

The East and West Towers are good authentic works, showing the wisdom and craftsmanship of ancient Quanzhou craftsmen. There are not many people in the quiet place, like a Buddhist retreat. The transportation is also convenient, and it is not too far to walk around.

There are exquisite flying Buddha statues on the beams of the main hall in Kaiyuan Temple, which are worth seeing. Photography is prohibited there, so I didn't take any photos.

Kaiyuan Temple is located in Xijie, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China. It is an important cultural relic on the southeast coast of China and the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. The temple was founded in the second year of Chuigong in the early Tang Dynasty (686 AD) and was originally named Lianhua Daochang. It was renamed Kaiyuan Temple in the 26th year of Kaiyuan (738 AD). The existing main temples were built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is 260 meters long from north to south and 300 meters wide from east to west, covering an area of ​​78,000 square meters. Kaiyuan Temple was listed as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units and a national 4A scenic spot in 1982.

The layout of Kaiyuan Temple is that the central axis from south to north has: Purple Cloud Screen, Mountain Gate (Heavenly King Hall), Worship Pavilion, Main Hall, Ganlu Ordination Platform, and Sutra Library. The east wing has the Donyue Temple, Quanzhou Buddhist Museum (Master Hongyi Memorial Hall), and Zhunti Zen Temple; the west wing has the Nursing Home, Merit Hall, and Shuilu Temple; the two stone towers, Zhenguo Tower and Renshou Tower, are located on the east and west sides of the worship pavilion in front of the Main Hall, commonly known as the East and West Towers.

Ancient banyan trees stand tall on both sides of the worship hall. The sculptures in the main hall are of high craftsmanship, especially the 24 flying musicians between the beams and troughs, which are rare in ancient Chinese architecture. The 72 bluestone reliefs of sphinxes and human faces on the Sumeru pedestal in front of the hall and the two ancient Brahman bluestone pillars in the corridor behind the hall were moved from the destroyed ancient Hindu temple of the Yuan Dynasty when the hall was renovated in the Ming Dynasty. Nearly 100 giant crabapple-shaped stone pillars support the hall, commonly known as the "Hall of 100 Pillars". The five Buddha statues enshrined in the hall are solemn and are rare in the Han area. The Ganlu Ordination Altar behind the main hall is one of the three existing ordination altars in China. The altar is surrounded by pillars and brackets and 24 wooden flying celestials between the paving.

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is famous. The East and West Pagodas of the Song Dynasty, one of the three largest precept platforms in China, the flying brackets in the Main Hall (which has become the artistic symbol of Quanzhou), and the Quanzhou Shipwreck Museum... Don't miss the Hindu carvings on the platform in front of the Main Hall and the Brahman pillars on both sides of the back door.

Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple is worth spending half a day to appreciate. The famous Quanzhou West Street is just outside the door, with all kinds of folk delicacies.

For details, please refer to the travel notes: http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/9268721.html