Suining | Only the temples are visible, not the mountains

During my laid-back days in Suining, Guangde Temple was probably the place that made me feel the trip was worthwhile. Just 1 hour away from Chengdu by high-speed train, it's very convenient for a short trip. The temple was built before the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan era and has endured through the ages to this day, being a truly ancient temple of a thousand years. It is said to be the place where Guanyin practiced, originally a royal Zen forest, and has been continuously worshipped for a thousand years. Locals believe that praying for wealth and children here is very effective. 🔴 Imperial Edict Archway The main purpose of this trip was to see the authentic work of Yan Zhenqing, with the horizontal plaque inscribed by him with 'Imperial Grant Zen Forest'. Unexpectedly, upon entering, I found a hidden gem and spent a lovely afternoon exploring. The existing archway was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty's Chenghua period and has survived to this day. The archway's Wu-dian style roof and the stele pavilion's Xieshan style roof have been weathered, appearing somewhat mottled and blurred, but the inscriptions are still clearly visible and vigorous. 🟡 Shanjita Pagoda The brick pagoda has a square plan and a solemn and beautiful shape. Interestingly, the patterns on each layer, side, and corner of the pagoda are all different. It is the flesh body pagoda of the temple's founder, Master Keyou, and is one of the best-preserved Song Dynasty pagodas in China today. 🔵 Imperial Seal for Suppressing the Mountain The two jade seals and one jade Buddha are placed in the 'Imperial Seal Hall', which requires a 30 yuan ticket to enter. What's shocking is that during the preliminary research, I saw few recommendations for this place. The Imperial Seal Hall is an open-air courtyard completely different from the outside, with lush flowers and plants, small bridges over flowing water, and a very quaint and beautiful double-story wooden building. The Jade Buddha Hall in the main hall enshrines a Burmese jade Buddha and two imperial seals. Among them, the Song seal is the 'Imperial Seal for Suppressing the Mountain' granted by Emperor Zhenzong of Song, and the Ming seal is the 'Four Nations Wen Jade Seal' granted by Emperor Wuzong of Ming, which can command all temples in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou, and also serve as a pass. The jade Buddha statue is about one meter tall, carved from Bhutanese white jade in Myanmar, consecrated, and then brought back to China for worship. The Buddha statue is serene and compassionate, with a dignified appearance. The old monk who explained it insisted that I take a closer look, saying that if I held my breath and concentrated, I could see the veins in the Buddha's eyelids pulsating. The cultural relics are well-preserved, but photography is not allowed here. There will be a monk in charge of explaining. Highly recommend visiting this place. It is said that there is also a Nine Dragons Wall, which I did not see. Several areas were under construction, so the viewing was not complete. The Golden Bell and Dharma Drum halls are also being renovated and cannot be entered, which is a pity. I was quite surprised that the scale and cultural value of this Zen forest far exceeded my expectations. Besides Buddhism, there is also the beauty of architecture and culture worth more visitors to experience. Whether for a spring outing or a historical visit, it's a great choice. 🔸Tips There are many steps, and it's uphill, so it's advisable not to wear thick clothes or uncomfortable shoes. Visitors from outside the area need to buy a ticket, 35 yuan. The Imperial Seal Hall requires a separate ticket, 30 yuan, but when purchasing, I was informed that it's not cost-effective for one person, and it's more economical for a group. I'm not sure if this means that people traveling together only need to buy one ticket. The cultural and creative products seem to be at the foot of the mountain at the entrance, and the exit does not go back the same way, so if needed, it's best to buy them first.