Tongguanyin Temple, originally known as Guangfu Lecture Temple, was built in the second year of Tianjian in the Liang Dynasty (503). It has a history of more than 1,500 years. It was once a place where eminent monks gave lectures and taught the Dharma. It reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty. Because there was originally a bronze statue of Avalokitesvara enshrined in the temple, it is also known as Tongguanyin Temple. At present, the preserved buildings include the main hall, the Western Hall, the temple bridge and Guangfu Tower. There is a sea of cherry blossoms in Tongguanyin Temple, with thousands of cherry blossoms. Under the Guangfu Tower of the Liang Dynasty, there are two varieties of red cherry and white cherry. Every March, at the end of the road where fragrance hides, it is like floating in a sea of snow. The scenery of the ancient town, the spring colors of the countryside, and the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains are all in full view. The temple bridge built across the river in front of Tongguanyin Temple is very simple and unsophisticated. The edges on both sides are made of Wukang stone. There are carvings of two dragons playing with pearls and the character ‘wan’ pattern. The workmanship is excellent. It is an old object from the Song Dynasty. Crossing the temple bridge and entering the mountain gate is the main hall. It is a single-eaved hard mountain-style building with a corridor in front. The interior of the hall is brightly lit without using brackets. The eaves purlin is directly placed on the eaves column. In front of the hall, there is a camphor tree with lush branches and leaves and a verdant crown. A double-step corridor is added in front of the downstairs with a boat awning porch. The corridor wall is embedded with Zhang Mojun’s stele of ‘Ode to Plum Blossoms’. The inscription on the stele is clear. The cursive script has continuous strokes and is unrestrained vertically and horizontally. Opening hours: Open all year round from 08:30 to 16:30. Preferential policies: Children: Free for those under 6 years old (inclusive) or under 1.4 meters in height (inclusive). Minors: Half price for those from 6 years old (exclusive) to 18 years old (inclusive). Elderly: Half price for those aged 60 to 69 years old (inclusive) with valid identity documents. Free for those aged 70 years old or above with valid identity documents. Students: Half price for full-time undergraduate and below students with valid identity documents. Active servicemen: Free with valid identity documents. Retired military cadres: Free with valid identity documents. ‘Three Categories’: Free for the dependents of military personnel who died in the line of duty, the dependents of martyrs, and the dependents of military personnel who died of illness with their valid certificates. Disabled people: Free with disability certificates. Lay Buddhists: Free for lay Buddhists near Tongguanyin Temple. Blood donation certificate: Free for those who have all three awards of National Contribution Award for Blood Donation, Award for Unpaid Stem Cell Donation, and Lifetime Honor Award for Volunteer Service issued by the Joint Conference Office on Unpaid Blood Donation in Jiangsu Province.
Tongguanyin Temple
Tongguanyin Temple, originally known as Guangfu Lecture Temple, was built in the second year of Tian[...]
