Guangxi Temple, the oldest temple in Guangzhou 🇨🇳

Guangxiu Temple 光孝寺 is one of the oldest temples in Guangzhou. According to the famous historian Min Yan, before Guangzhou, there was Guangxiu Temple. This temple was built in the 2nd century BC (101-200 BC). The temple grounds were originally the palace of the King of Nan Yue, Zhao Jiande, the 5th King of the Nan Yue Kingdom (During the Three Kingdoms Period), and was also the residence of a civil official, Yu Fan, who had served in the state of Wu (Wu) under the rule of Emperor Sun Jian or the Southern Tiger. After Yu Fan died, the family turned the house into a religious building. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was called Wuyuan Temple. During the Tang Dynasty, it was called Chao Mingfaxing Temple. During the Han Dynasty, it was called Ganheng Temple. During the Northern Song Dynasty, it was called Shoushan Temple. During the Southern Song Dynasty The name was Guangxiu Temple, and shortly after that, it was renamed again as Guangxiu Temple, which is still in existence today. The architecture of Guangxiu Temple has many historical heritages, such as churches built since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, ancient wells dating back to the early Song Dynasty, pagodas and library halls from the Tang Dynasty, iron pagodas from the Nan and Han Dynasties, Buddha pavilions from the Song and Ming Dynasties. There are also reclining Buddhas, stone tablets carved with Dharma, Buddha statues, Bodhi trees, drum towers, etc. In 1961, the National People's Congress of China declared Guangxiu Temple an important historical site worth preserving. Later, in 1986, the State Council of China announced that Guangxiu Temple was under the care of the Religious Affairs Department. Location: Metro Line 1, Ximenkou Station, Exit C #triptravelchina #guangzhou