A stunning millennium-old temple hidden in the deep mountains of China caught my eye

'Shisi Temple' amazed me with its secluded existence within the country. This temple, built during the Southern Song Dynasty, is well-preserved but has neither Buddha statues nor incense. It's so off the beaten path that there are hardly any tourists, only accompanied by a giant Cryptomeria tree🌲. Crossing the broken thousand-year-old cypress at the entrance is like traveling back a thousand years. ① Shisi Temple: Constructed in the tenth year of the Shaoxing period of the Southern Song Dynasty, it underwent renovations during the Ming and Qing dynasties, yet the architecture still retains the ancient Song style. It consists of the main hall, the Hall of the Three Pure Ones, the Ma Xian Palace, and the bell tower, with the ancient buildings and naturally grown moss being extremely beautiful❗️ ② Inside Shisi Temple, there is nothing, no Buddha statues, and no incense offered. Some say that Buddha is in the heart. ③ The site was once the Mei family's ancestral tomb guard house in the village, which later evolved into a temple, with the adjacent Mei family ancestral hall recording more history. ④ Next to the temple, the Cryptomeria tree king is over 1500 years old. Unfortunately, after being struck by lightning, it now stands only 28 meters tall but is still very impressive. Location: Shisi Temple is located in Jingning She Autonomous County, Lishui City, within the Yunzhong Dajing Scenic Area, with an entrance fee of 40 yuan. In addition to Shisi Temple, the Xuehua Jian Waterfall in the scenic area is also worth visiting. About transportation: You can get there by self-driving or public transport. Recommended route: Take the high-speed train to Lishui Station ➡️ Take a bus from Lishui Station to Jingning Bus Station ➡️ Buy a ticket to 'Dajing' at Jingning Bus Station, 11.5 yuan per person, with a journey of about 1.5h. The daily bus schedule to Dajing is 8:10, 9:35, 12:25, 14:40, with the last return bus at 15:00. I spent half a day here, and including myself, only a few tourists came, quietly appreciating the beauty of Shisi Temple It's also fortunate that Shisi Temple is hidden in the deep mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, preserving its transcendental quality.