Huishan Temple is a scenic spot located within the Xihui Park in Wuxi, Jiangsu. To the west of the park lies the historical area at the foot of Huishan, while to the east is the leisure area encompassing Xishan. Huishan Temple is part of the historical area, situated in the northern part of this zone. The temple, originally constructed during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, has been destroyed and rebuilt throughout the ages, leaving behind relics from various dynasties.
Li Shen, a poet from the Tang Dynasty, wrote the famous poem ‘Sympathy for Farmers’ here, with the line ‘In the midday sun, the hoeing is done, sweat drips down to the soil’ being well-known to all households. Visitors to Huishan Temple come for two main reasons: to explore historical sites and to pray for blessings. The main structures of Huishan Temple are arranged along the east-west central axis. The eastern entrance, known as the Ancient Huashan Gate, is flanked by two stone sutra pillars, one from the Tang Dynasty and the other from the Song Dynasty. Beyond this is the two-story pavilion-like second gate, the Vajra Hall, with the first floor displaying the plaque ‘Huishan Temple’ and the second floor displaying ‘The First Mountain in Jiangnan’. Inside, the hall enshrines the two guardians, Hen and Ha. Further ahead is the Hall of Heavenly Kings with three archways, housing the Four Great Vajra Kings. Passing through the Hall of Heavenly Kings, one arrives at the essence of the temple. In a courtyard, the ancient stone bridge from the Song Dynasty, the Golden Lotus Bridge of Wuxi, lies before you, adorned with beautiful patterns on both sides. In the summer, the pond under the bridge is filled with blooming golden lotus flowers, which are exceptionally charming. Due to cultural heritage protection, the bridge is not accessible to the public. Opposite the bridge is the Qianlong Imperial Stele Pavilion. Circumventing the bridge to the center of the courtyard, one can find the towering branches of the Ming Hongwu ginkgo tree, making it a great spot to visit in autumn when the golden leaves cover the ground. Under the ginkgo tree is the Tang Dynasty’s ‘Listening to Pines’ stone bed, on which the calligrapher Li Yangbing inscribed the characters ‘Listening to Pines’ in seal script. On one side of the courtyard, there is a newly built bell tower with a replica of a Tang Dynasty bronze bell. Behind the courtyard, the Datong Hall is visible only through its gate, and beyond the gate lies the main hall, the Mahavira Hall, which houses the Buddha Sakyamuni, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra. Buildings not on the temple’s central axis include the Great Compassion Pavilion, which enshrines the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, and the Sutra Pavilion (Fragrant Leaves Scattering). From the Great Compassion Pavilion, one can overlook the Dragon Light Pagoda on Xishan, one of Wuxi’s landmarks. Heading south from Huishan Temple leads to the Second Spring in the World, and the Golden Lotus Bridge extends north towards the Jichang Garden. Every year on December 31st, Huishan Temple holds a bell-ringing event to welcome the New Year, and Dharma assemblies are also held on the birthdays of various Buddhas and important Buddhist festivals. The temple is open all year round from 08:00 to 17:00, with specific operating conditions subject to the day’s opening status.
