Suzhou • Hanshan Temple: Exploring the Poetic Ancient Temple Outside Gusu City|||

||| 📍Suzhou • Hanshan Temple: Exploring the Poetic Ancient Temple Outside Gusu City||| The line "Outside Suzhou's city walls, by Hanshan Temple, the midnight bell reaches the traveler's boat" sparked a deep longing within me to visit Hanshan Temple. After checking in, I eagerly embarked on my journey to the temple. Unlike the red walls commonly seen in northern temples, Hanshan Temple in the south features primarily yellow walls, blending seamlessly with the surrounding garden architecture, creating a tranquil and comfortable atmosphere. Strolling through the temple grounds, I felt as if I had traveled through time, experiencing its ancient and mysterious charm. After my visit, I had planned to go to Xiyuan Temple, but the taxi driver advised against it, citing a local custom of not visiting two temples in one day. After checking online and asking around, I learned that the two temples are very close to each other and the road between them is prone to traffic jams, making it impractical to visit both on the same day. The driver then took me to the old pedestrian street and began to extol the virtues of silk. However, his sales pitch was strikingly similar to some posts I had seen online, which I found rather amusing. Reflecting on my trip to Suzhou, I realized that ride-hailing services seem to be more reliable than taxis. Not only do they offer better service, but they also spare you the awkwardness of being taken on a detour or subjected to a sales pitch. My trip to Hanshan Temple not only allowed me to appreciate the beauty of an ancient temple in the south of the Yangtze River but also gave me a deeper understanding of Suzhou's rich culture. The seamless integration of temples and the city is a unique charm of this water town in the south of the Yangtze River.