Kaiyuan Temple, Quanzhou: The Temple of 100 Columns and the Palace-style Temple!

Quanzhou Ancient City is known as the "World Museum of Religions" and is home to many temples. The most famous of these is Kaiyuan Temple, where you will first see the twin stone pagodas of Renshou and Zhenguo, standing tall and facing each other. The temple's mountain gate and Mahavira Hall are connected by a corridor, and the courtyard in between is lined with ancient banyan trees, with lush branches and roots that amaze visitors. Official-style architecture: The Mahavira Hall (Ziyun Hall) retains the characteristics of Song Dynasty architecture, with a double-eaved hip roof, brackets under the eaves, and verandas at the front and back, creating a majestic atmosphere. Unlike most ancient buildings, the hall is supported by 86 stone columns, earning it the nickname "Temple of 100 Columns." Palace-style architecture: This is a traditional type of residential building unique to the Fujian and Taiwan regions, with a central hall as the main axis, flanked by protective wings, and featuring a courtyard and corridors. The roof ridge is slightly concave, and the roof corners are swallowtail-shaped, pointing to the sky. Kaiyuan Temple has several palace-style buildings, with the Hall of Heavenly Kings (mountain gate) as the representative. East-meets-West architecture: The Sutra Library is the last building in Kaiyuan Temple. Built in the Yuan Dynasty, it fell into disrepair by modern times. In 1924, it was rebuilt in the style of a Western-style building, using cement brought from overseas, with a two-story wooden structure and red brick and white stone walls typical of southern Fujian. The two floors have verandas, and the second floor is surrounded by Western-style balustrades. Kaiyuan Temple is located at 176 West Street, Quanzhou, and is the largest Buddhist architectural complex in Fujian, reflecting the influence of Central Plains and overseas cultures on temple architecture. The temple is free to enter and does not require reservations.