[2025 Zhao County Attraction] Travel Guide for Cypress Chan Monastery (Updated Apr)

Shijiazhuang 2-day tour, explore the charming city! Carefully selected routes, not to be missed, come and experience the unique style of this city! -------- 🚩Route Overview: Day 1️⃣: Xibaipo Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Site - Xibaipo Memorial Hall Visit the revolutionary holy land and feel the vicissitudes of history. Relive the glorious years of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Xibaipo and experience the unique charm of red culture. Day 2️⃣: Zhaozhou Bridge - Bailin Temple Visit the ancient Zhaozhou Bridge and appreciate the exquisite ancient bridge architecture. Then go to Bailin Temple to enjoy the Zen life and find inner peace and tranquility. -------- Must-visit Attractions: Zhaozhou Bridge ⭐⭐⭐ - Address: Dashiqiao Village, Zhaozhou Town, Zhaoxian County, Shijiazhuang City - Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00 - Duration: 2-4 hours - A national key cultural relic protection unit, with a simple and magnificent bridge body, exquisite dragon and phoenix carvings on the bridge, and a close combination of history and art. Bailin Temple ⭐⭐ - Address: No. 23, Shita East Road, Zhaozhou Town, Zhaoxian County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province - Opening Hours: 08:00-16:00 - Duration: 1-2 hours - Feel the Buddhist charm of the thousand-year-old temple, step into this pure land, calm your mind instantly, and experience the realm of Buddha's heart. Xibaipo Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Site ⭐⭐ - Address: Xibaipo Town, Pingshan County, Shijiazhuang City - Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 09:30-16:30; Monday Closed - Duration: 4 hours - Visit the Xibaipo Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Site, pay tribute to the living and working environment of the martyrs, and deeply feel the unique charm of red culture. -------- 🧳 Travel Checklist: Must-have Items for Shijiazhuang in December 👚🧣 Clothing: The temperature in Shijiazhuang in December is moderate but cool in the morning and evening, so it is recommended to bring warm clothes such as down jackets and sweaters. Choose comfortable and non-slip shoes, as there may be snow or slippery roads. 🎒🧤 Accessories: Don't forget to bring warm gloves, scarves, and hats to protect your head and hands from the cold wind. Choose a lightweight backpack for carrying personal items, and you can also bring a portable water bottle. 🪪💰 Documents and Finance: ID card, cash, and bank card are essential, and you can also bring student ID and other discount documents. Safety first when traveling, be sure to keep your personal belongings and important documents safe. -------- Shijiazhuang, a city with stories, is waiting for you to discover more surprises! 🌈

Bailin Temple is located at No. 23, Shita East Road, Zhaozhou Town, Zhao County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It was built during the Jian'an period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (196-220 AD). It was originally called "Guanyin Temple" and was renamed "Yongan Temple" in the Southern Song Dynasty. In the Jin Dynasty, it was called "Bailin Zen Temple" and has been called "Bailin Temple" since the Yuan Dynasty. The existing temple buildings (except for the Bailin Temple Pagoda) were built in 1992, covering an area of more than 90 mu. It is an important ancestral temple in the history of Chinese Zen Buddhism. There are five halls along the central axis of Bailin Temple, namely the Shanmen Weituo Hall, Puguangming Hall, Guanyin Hall, Wumenguan (Zen Hall), and Wanfo Building. On May 25, 2006, the Bailin Temple Pagoda in Bailin Temple was announced as the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units by the People's Republic of China. Ticket information: Free Opening hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily Transportation: Take bus No. 4, Huan No. 5, or No. 1101 to Zhaoxian County

Berlin Temple Pagoda, also known as the Pagoda of the Sarira of Zen Master Congshen, is located in Bailin Temple, No. 23, Shita East Road, Zhaoxian County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It was first built in the 3rd year of the Tianli period of the Yuan Dynasty (1330 AD). It is a brick and wood dense-eave pagoda with seven octagonal stories, 39.5 meters high. It is located on a square platform 2.5 meters high. The platform is divided into two layers, the lower layer is made of stone, and the upper layer is made of brick. The lower part of the pagoda is a brick Sumeru pedestal. The upper part of the Sumeru pedestal is made of brick imitating wood structure, with dougong and flat seat. The flat seat is decorated with reliefs of railings, lattice fences, flowers, and other decorative patterns. The Berlin Temple Pagoda is simple and elegant in shape and exquisite in craftsmanship, fully reflecting the superb level of architecture in the Yuan Dynasty. In 1956, the Berlin Temple Pagoda was announced as a key cultural relic protection unit in Hebei Province by the People's Government of Hebei Province. In 1988, the Berlin Temple Pagoda was announced as a religious activity site by the People's Government of Hebei Province. On May 25, 2006, the Berlin Temple Pagoda was announced as the sixth batch of national key cultural relic protection units by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Ticket information: Free Opening hours: 8:00–16:00 daily Transportation: Take bus No. 4, Huan No. 5, or No. 1101 to Zhaoxian County

Located 1h drive from Shijiazhuang, Zhao County is most famous for the Zhaozhou Bridge, but the place locals prefer to visit is the Berlin Zen Temple. After all, even the Zhaozhou Bridge had few tourists when I went, but the crowded Berlin Zen Temple really surprised me, and the prosperity of its incense offering was astonishing. It's no wonder, this ancient temple, which was founded at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, has a history of 1800 years. It is also revered as one of the ancestral courts of Chinese Buddhism's Chan (Zen) school, and the birthplace of the Zhaozhou Chan master's 'go drink tea' case, as well as the source of Zhaozhou's Chan tea culture. Unfortunately, almost all of the Berlin Zen Temple that can be seen today was rebuilt in 1992, with the only ancient relic being the Berlin Temple Pagoda, which was the focus of this visit. The Berlin Temple Pagoda, also known as the Congshen Chan Master's Relic Pagoda, was established to commemorate the great Chan master Zhaozhou Congshen (778—897), and was built in the third year of the Yuan Dynasty's Tianli era (1330), with a history of over 680 years. The Berlin Temple Pagoda is a brick and wood structure with a dense eave style, an octagonal seven-story pavilion style, and a height of 39.5 meters, which can be considered a tall pagoda. However, the believers who circled the Berlin Temple Pagoda were endless, and many times one could only stand at the base to properly appreciate it. The pagoda is made of brick and sits on a 2.5-meter-high square base. The base is divided into upper and lower layers, with the lower layer built of stone and the upper layer of brick. The lower part of the pagoda is a Sumeru base, above which is an imitation wooden bracket to support the flat seat. Around the flat seat, a lattice fence is built, and above it, four layers of upturned lotuses support the first layer of the pagoda body. What is special is that the first layer of the pagoda body is relatively tall, accounting for about one-third of the total height of the pagoda. The east, west, south, and north sides are carved with brick pot doors, and the other four sides with brick lattice ridge windows. Above the south door, a stone plaque is inlaid with the inscription 'Specially Granted Great Yuan Zhaozhou Ancient Buddha True Realm Light Ancestor Master's Pagoda', and on the left side is carved the year 'Tianli three years, early Mengchun, auspicious construction'. Upon closer inspection, the details of the Berlin Temple Pagoda are also worth savoring, where the flying eaves of the first layer are made of wood, and from the second to the seventh layer, they are changed to brick carvings. The length of the eaves converges layer by layer, and the eaves corners of each layer are all made of wood, with an iron Arhat statue standing on the ridge, and wind bells hanging below, which are also exquisitely crafted. 'The temple holds the true realm pagoda for a thousand autumns, the gate faces the Zhaozhou Bridge spanning ten thousand miles.' After seeing the Zhaozhou Bridge in Shijiazhuang, this national treasure Berlin Temple Pagoda is indeed worth a special visit. 🏠Name | Berlin Temple Pagoda 🎫Ticket | Free ⛳Address | No. 23, Shita East Road, Zhaozhou Town, Zhao County, Shijiazhuang City 🚗Transportation | Navigate to 'Berlin Zen Temple' by car

Berlin Zen Temple is located in the southeast corner of Zhao County, Hebei Province (formerly known as Zhaozhou), and is far away from the Zhaozhou Bridge, the first bridge in the world. It was first built during the Jian'an period of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty (196-220). It was called Guanyin Temple in ancient times, Yong'an Temple in the Southern Song Dynasty, Berlin Zen Temple in the Jin Dynasty, and has been called Berlin Zen Temple since the Yuan Dynasty. Throughout the long course of history, this ancient temple has experienced several ups and downs, but it still continues to be popular and has produced many eminent monks. According to the records in the Buddhist biography, the famous Buddhist translator Xuanzang came here to study the Abhidharmakosha with Master Daoshen before he went west to India to seek Buddhist scriptures. During the late Tang Dynasty, the great Zen master Congren lived here for forty years, spreading the Dharma and forming the far-reaching "Zhaozhou School". Berlin Zen Temple thus became an important ancestral temple in the history of Chinese Zen. During the Jin Dynasty, this place was converted into a Vinaya school, and five generations of Vinaya school masters promoted the precepts here for fifty years. The most famous one is lawyer Quanzong. At the end of the Jin Dynasty, Master Guiyun Zhixuan, who spread the orthodox Linji school of Buddhism, presided over the Dharma seat at Berlin Zen Temple, and the Buddhist Vinaya was changed to Zen, and the sect flourished. In the Yuan Dynasty, Master Yuanming Yuexi and Master Luyun Xingxing preached here successively, and Berlin Zen Temple became magnificent and became the center of Buddhism in the Yanzhao area. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Sengzhengsi, the institution of the central court to manage Buddhist affairs in Zhaozhou area, was set up in Berlin Zen Temple. At that time, the abbot of Berlin Zen Temple often served as the chief monk of the Abbot's Office at the same time. Over the past hundred years, Berlin Zen Temple has suffered repeated disasters. By 1988, when monks moved in again, the halls, scriptures and statues had all disappeared. Only the stupa of Zhaozhou Zen Master and more than 20 ancient cypresses from the Tang Dynasty were still standing, showing the world that this was once an ancient Buddhist temple. In 1988, Berlin Zen Temple was opened as a Buddhist activity venue. The president of Hebei Buddhist Association, Master Jinghui, personally presided over the restoration of Berlin Zen Temple. With the strong support of people from all walks of life, in 1992, Pu Guangming Hall was completed; subsequently, the bell and drum tower, Guanyin Hall, Sutra Library, Zen Hall, Huaiyun Tower, Kaishan Tower, Huixian Tower, Zhiyue Tower, Yunshui Tower, Xiangji Tower, Gufo Temple, Guanfang, Buddhist College, The Tea Fragrance Tower, Manjusri Tower, and Samantabhadra Tower were built one after another; on September 6, 2003, the majestic Ten Thousand Buddhas Tower was completed and the Buddha statue was consecrated, marking a major achievement in the revival of the Zhaozhou ancestral temple. A thousand-year-old temple covering an area of ​​more than 100 acres, with halls and pavilions lined up in a solemn and dignified manner, has regained its vitality. The current abbot of Berlin Zen Temple is Minghai Zen Master. There are more than 160 monks living in the temple. It has the Hebei Buddhist College and Hebei Zen Studies Institute. Every year, we hold large-scale Dharma propagation activities such as the auspicious Dharma Assembly for the Lantern Festival, the Dharma Assembly for repaying gratitude for the Ghost Festival, the Water and Land Dharma Assembly for the Qingming Festival, the Living Zen Summer Camp, the Buddha Chanting Seven, and the Zen Seven. The monks insist on chanting, eating in the dining hall, and meditating every morning and evening, reciting the precepts every half month, and observing the summer retreat in accordance with the Dharma. 2Berlin Temple Pagoda, also known as the Zen Master Congshen Relic Pagoda, is located in the southeast corner of Zhao County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It was built in the third year of Tianli in the Yuan Dynasty (1330) and has a history of more than 670 years. The building area is 15,000 square meters. The tower was built to commemorate the relics of Zen Master Zhenji. It is a brick-and-wood structure with a dense eaves. It has seven levels and an octagonal plan. It is 28.3 meters high and sits on a two-story stone base with an "eight" shaped stone staircase on the south side. Berlin Zen Temple>

Everything you do is practice. The so-called cause and effect is not retribution on yourself. The good causes and good fruits you plant may be reaped by others, so meditators will do good deeds throughout their lives in order to save all sentient beings. Recommended index: Suitable for one person, two people, or a family, go again and again. The only thing you need to remind is that it closes at 4:30 p.m. Berlin Zen Temple was called "Guanyin Temple" in ancient times, "Yong'an Temple" in the Southern Song Dynasty, "Berlin Zen Temple" in the Jin Dynasty, and "Berlin Zen Temple" since the Yuan Dynasty. It has been destroyed several times in history, and only one temple remains in modern times. tower. Other buildings in the temple were rebuilt in modern times. There are many stone tablets in the temple, which shows its historical scale. The temple is open to the public free of charge, and you can receive three sticks of incense at the entrance. The part behind the Guanyin Hall of the temple is currently not open to the public. 2:Mountain Gate 3: Skanda Hall 4: Passing Incense Burner 5: Stone lanterns on the roadside 6 Guangming Hall and left and right verandas 12: Guanyin Hall 13: Pavilion next to it 14-17: Stone Tower 18: Bell and Drum Tower

| The secret Berlin Zen Temple in Hebei. Berlin Zen Temple was originally a famous Zen temple in Hebei Province However, because there are few tourists, it is not widely known. Therefore, it is also a rare and quiet niche secret place Berlin Zen Temple It is located at No. 23, Shita East Road, Zhaozhou Town, Zhao County, Shijiazhuang City It was first built during the Jian'an period of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Long history Strong humanistic atmosphere Berlin Zen Temple has many ancient names "Guanyin Temple", "Yong'an Temple", "Berlin Zen Temple" It is its title Berlin Zen Temple covers an area of ​​about 90 acres It is also one of the most important ancestral temples in the history of Chinese Zen Buddhism. Tourists who love humanities and history may come to explore the ruins