Chongqing's hidden gem, enter the autumn Zen paradise for free

Chongqing locals' secret! Enter the autumn Zen paradise for free and heal all your inner struggles! After living in Chongqing for 3 years, I just discovered this magical temple where you can eat, play, and it’s all free! A weekend trip here makes you feel completely purified! 📍 Navigation: Chongqing Huayan Temple (key point! No admission fee! You can have a great time with zero spending!) 🚇 Transportation: Take Metro Line 5 to "Huayan Temple Station," exit 3B, then a 3-minute walk from the subway— even those bad with directions won’t get lost! 🍂 My immersive experience checklist, follow this to avoid any mistakes: 1. Rush to the vegetarian meal at 11:30 AM sharp! An 8 yuan buffet vegetarian meal with unbeatable value! (I missed it because I was late) 2. Free incense and candles are available at every hall entrance, no need to buy your own, just pray sincerely—this really touched me! 3. Copying sutras + collecting stamps is so healing! See photos 5 and 7 for exact spots, highly recommend going to Guanyin Temple to copy sutras! Sunshine streaming through the window onto the rice paper, holding the pen and writing slowly, all worries just disappear. Bringing your own stamp book makes it even more meaningful, and you can get one on site easily~ 4. In the afternoon, definitely go to the lakeside! Autumn sunlight on the lake, golden leaves drifting down, a group of goldfish fighting for food, sitting on the stone bench by the lake daydreaming, the breeze carries the scent of osmanthus flowers—this is what a weekend should feel like! 5. Want to volunteer? Just come! No reservation needed! Arrive at the temple around 8 AM, find a monk who will assign light tasks like organizing sutras or watering flowers. After finishing, you can chat with the monks and gain a lot~ ⚠️ Little tips: The scenic area is bigger than you think, wear comfortable sneakers! Sutra copying and chanting have fixed times, ask the volunteer sisters when you arrive so you don’t miss out~ Really! If you don’t want to be squeezed in crowded shopping areas, or get foot pain from rushing to check in, come here! Eat a warm bowl of vegetarian meal, copy a page of the Heart Sutra, watch the autumn lake view, and all your stress and fatigue from the week will disappear! Everyone who comes praises it!