A Glimpse Through a Thousand Years: The Most Beautiful Ancient Architecture in Zhejiang

A thousand-year-old temple hidden in deep mountains drew me to travel 500 kilometers twice. The moment I stepped into Sisi Temple, it felt like crossing through a portal in time. Outside the gate lies the bustling world, but inside, lush greenery and tranquility reign, with a millennium of history settled within.

An Ancient Paradise Hidden in Mountains

Sisi Temple is embraced by rolling mountains and surrounded by towering ancient trees. The Muhe Stream flows gently past the temple, forming a magnificent waterfall at the cliff. Today, there are no longer monks coming and going, nor wisps of smoke rising, only ancient buildings and traces of time remain.

Past the Huguan Bridge and up the stone steps, ancient Chinese junipers stand before the temple gate. As you enter, time seems to freeze. Walking along earthen walls and stone paths, deep moss covers the courtyard while ancient buildings stand silently. The poetic scene of "moss greening the steps, grass colors seeping through curtains" slowly unfolds. Most of the time, only my footsteps echo in the temple - that sense of emptiness and solitude is hard to comprehend without experiencing it firsthand.

The Ultimate Song Dynasty Aesthetics

Built in the Southern Song Dynasty, Sisi Temple features a series of structures including the mountain gate, bell tower, main hall, Sanqing Hall, Maxian Palace, and Mei Family Ancestral Hall. The main hall, built during the Yuan Dynasty's Zhizheng period, maintains its double-eaved xieshan roof structure from the Yuan reconstruction despite Ming and Qing renovations, preserving the Southern Song wooden architecture style. The three-bay main hall is a quintessential example of southern temple architecture.

The three-story bell tower beside it rises gracefully, tapering at each level. The ceiling features exquisite paintings, and though built in the Ming Dynasty, it maintains an ancient style with a well-balanced layout, like a three-dimensional Song painting. On the left of the main hall, the Qing Dynasty's Sanqing Hall retains only its pillars and beam framework, with doors, windows, and walls destroyed by fire, yet possesses a unique beauty in its incompleteness.

Many visitors are drawn to Sisi Temple's unique atmosphere, even mistaking all its wooden structures for Song Dynasty relics. Compared to Ningbo's Baoguo Temple, the oldest wooden structure in the Yangtze Delta, Sisi Temple's ancient and serene ambiance is equally impressive.

Travel Tips

1. Tickets and Transportation: Sisi Temple is located in Yunzhong Dajian Scenic Area, Jingning She Autonomous County, Lishui, Zhejiang. Admission is CNY 40. Driving or hiring a car is recommended, or you can take a direct bus from Jingning.

2. Best Time to Visit: Spring brings lush greenery while fall offers colorful foliage. These seasons enhance the temple's ancient charm.

3. Accommodation: Many guesthouses are available in the scenic area. Staying overnight is recommended. The morning sunlight on the ancient temple is breathtaking, and the evening offers undisturbed serenity.

4. Nearby Attractions: En route to Sisi Temple, you'll pass through peaceful She ethnic villages. Across from the village stands an ancient covered bridge, definitely worth visiting.