Tongguanyin Temple, originally known as Guangfu Lecture Temple, was first established in the second year of the Tianjian era during the Liang Dynasty (503 AD), and has a history of over 1500 years. It was once a place where eminent monks lectured on scriptures and imparted the Dharma, reaching its zenith during the Tang Dynasty. The temple is also named after the copper Guanyin statue that was enshrined within. Currently, the preserved structures include the main hall, the Western Hall, the temple bridge, and Guangfu Pagoda.
Inside Tongguanyin Temple, there is a sea of cherry blossoms with thousands of cherry trees. At the foot of Guangfu Pagoda Hill during the Liang Dynasty, there are two varieties of cherry blossoms: red and white. Every March, as the path ends, the fragrance lingers and the cherry blossoms float like a snow sea. The ancient town scenery, pastoral spring colors, and the lake and mountain views are all visible at a glance. The temple bridge built across the river in front of Tongguanyin Temple is very quaint. The sides are made of Wu Kang stone, carved with double dragons playing with pearls and the character ‘Wan’, all exquisitely crafted and dating back to the Song Dynasty. After crossing the temple bridge and entering the mountain gate, one arrives at the main hall, which is a single-eave hard mountain structure with a porch in front. Inside the hall, the ceiling is clear and without brackets, with eaves directly supported by the eaves columns. In front of the hall, there is a camphor tree with lush branches and a verdant canopy. The lower front part of the building has a double-step porch with a ship’s shed. The wall of the corridor is embedded with a stele of Zhang Mojun’s ‘Ode to Plum Blossoms’. The inscription is clear, with a continuous and flowing cursive script, full of vigor and freedom. Opening hours are from 08:30 to 16:30 all year round. Preferential policies: Children: aged 6 and under or with a height of 1.4 meters and under, free; Minors: aged 6 to 18, half price; Elderly: aged 60 to 69 with valid identification, half price; aged 70 and over with valid identification, free; Students: full-time undergraduate and below, half price; Active military personnel: with valid identification, free; Retired military officers: with valid identification, free; Dependents of martyrs and deceased military personnel: with valid identification, free; Disabled persons: with disability certificate, free; Lay Buddhists: residents near Tongguanyin Temple, free; Blood donors: must have three awards issued by the Jiangsu Province Voluntary Blood Donation Joint Conference Office: National Voluntary Blood Donation Award, Voluntary Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donation Award, and Lifetime Volunteer Service Honor Award, free.Tongguanyin Temple
Tongguanyin Temple, originally known as Guangfu Lecture Temple, was first established in the second [...]
