Enter the Millennium Ancient Temple - Daming Temple in Yangzhou

Daming Temple, located in the northwest suburbs of Yangzhou city, was founded during the Daming era of Emperor Xiaowu of the Southern Song dynasty (457-464 AD), and has been renamed several times, known as the number one temple in Huaidong (and it's not a 'Taoist temple'). Visit Highlights 1. Jianzhen Memorial Hall: Designed by the famous architect Liang Sicheng, there is his stone statue on the left side of the entrance, and on the right side, there is the stone statue of Zhao Puchu, the former president of the Buddhist Association. 2. Pingshan Hall and Ouyang Shrine: The house where Ouyang Xiu served as the prefect of Yangzhou. Leaning on the railing, one can gaze at the mountains of the south of the Yangtze River, which are level with the line of sight, hence the name 'Pingshan Hall'. 3. Gulin Hall: Built by the great literary figure of the Northern Song dynasty, Su Shi, during his tenure as the prefect of Yangzhou. The name comes from the words 'valley' and 'forest' in Su Shi's poem 'Deep valleys are secluded, and high forests are supportive'. 4. The Qianlong Emperor's Stele: Engraved with three poems written by the Qianlong Emperor when he came to Daming Temple to pay homage to the relics of Ouyang during his tour of the south of the Yangtze River. 5. The Fifth Spring: From the 'Tea Steeping Notes' written by Zhang Youxin, the top scholar of the Tang dynasty in the ninth year of Yuanhe (814 AD), which says 'The water of Daming Temple in Yangzhou is the fifth best'. 6. Qiling Pagoda: Houses three sarira (cremated relics) of Sakyamuni Buddha, and from the top of the pagoda, one can view the entire city of Yangzhou. Ticket Price: 45 yuan, and an additional 20 yuan is required to climb the Qiling Pagoda. It is recommended to buy a combo ticket that includes nearby attractions such as Slender West Lake and Ge Garden, which is valid for two days. You can save 5-10 yuan, and after visiting Daming Temple, you can conveniently go to the nearby Slender West Lake (close to both the north and east gates). It is best to book tickets online in advance. Transportation: There are special tourist buses like Tour 1 and public buses to Daming Temple station within the city. From high-speed rail stations such as Nanjing South Station and Nanjing Station, you can choose several buses like the Z6 route at the eastern or western transportation hubs, some of which transfer to tourist buses like Tour 1 and Tour 2, and some take you directly to the Pingshan Hall parking lot nearby, like Tour 3. It is recommended to download navigation apps like Baidu Maps or Amap for the clearest directions to Daming Temple.