Baihua Ancient Temple in Zengcheng, Guangzhou | A mysterious ancient temple hidden in Zengcheng, Guangzhou.

The predecessor of Baihua Ancient Temple can be traced back to the Lotus Academy established in the 11th year of Yongping in the Eastern Han Dynasty (68 AD). It is worth noting that this was 133 years earlier than the establishment of Zengcheng (201 AD), so there is a saying among the people that "there were flowers before there was Zengcheng." Lotus Academy was originally established as an educational venue for spreading Confucianism, reflecting the influence of Emperor Wu of Han's policy of "abolishing all schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone." As history progressed, Lotus Academy underwent many changes. During the Wei, Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, with the spread and development of Buddhism in China, the Lotus Academy was gradually transformed into the Baihua Temple dedicated to the Buddha. However, the fate of the temple was not all smooth sailing. According to records, Baihua Temple has been destroyed and rebuilt many times in history, "rebuilt many times, ruined many times", said to be as many as five hundred times. The Ming Dynasty was an important period in the history of Baihua Temple. In the 15th year of Jiajing's reign (1536), the famous Neo-Confucianist Zhan Ruoshui planned to build Liandong Academy on the site of Baihua Temple. However, the good times did not last long. In the seventh year of Wanli (1578), Liandong Academy was destroyed again due to policy reasons and then rebuilt into Baihua Ancient Temple. During this period, Zhan Ruoshui also inscribed the three words "Lotus Seat" on the cliff, demonstrating the profound cultural heritage of this place. The rebuilt Baihua Ancient Temple is based on the original site, with Nanxiang Mountain to the north and Wanfo Pagoda in the middle. The overall layout presents the shape of a "big Buddha". The building complex is arranged symmetrically along the central axis, and mainly includes the memorial archway, Hundred Flowers Square, mountain gate, releasing pond, Hall of Heavenly Kings, Main Hall, Dharma Hall and Sutra Library. There are also buildings such as Manjusri Hall, Samantabhadra Hall, and Patriarch Hall on both sides. The entire building complex is built against the mountain, with layer upon layer of peaks, magnificent and majestic, showing the spectacular scene of a pure land on earth. Attractions: ‌Archway‌: As the gateway to the ancient temple, the archway is solemn and dignified, indicating that one is about to enter a quiet place. ‌Baihua Square‌: The open square, surrounded by various flowers, provides tourists with a good place to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Mountain Gate: The majestic Mountain Gate is the main entrance of the ancient temple, symbolizing the majesty and compassion of Buddhism. Release Pond: Located behind the mountain gate, various aquatic creatures are released into the pond, reflecting the Buddhist concept of compassion and life protection. ‌Hall of Heavenly Kings‌: The Four Heavenly Kings are enshrined in the hall, guarding the peace and tranquility of the ancient temple. ‌Main Hall‌: As the core building of the ancient temple, the Main Hall houses statues of Sakyamuni Buddha and other Buddhas, and is the main place for believers to pray and worship. In addition, Baihua Ancient Temple also plans to use the temple as the entrance to build a mountain trail on the south side of Nanxiang Mountain, so that the ancient temple can be integrated with the scenic area and become the southern gate of Nanxiang Mountain. These attractions together constitute the unique charm of Baihua Ancient Temple, allowing visitors to experience Buddhist culture while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery. 📍Address: Baihua Ancient Temple, Yongning Avenue, S379, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou 🚇Metro Line 13 Guanhu Station Exit B and take a taxi 🚎Zengcheng No. 40 bus goes directly to 🅿️Large parking lot for free parking 🎫Tickets are free, no reservation required ⏰Opening hours: 8:00-18:00 ⛱️Visit time: 2 hours