[2025 Suining Attraction] Travel Guide for Guangde Temple Scenic Area (Updated Mar)

I spent two days in Suining. It’s not a big place, but it’s fun! 📍Saturday morning: After arriving in Suining, head to the Chinese Guanyin Hometown Tourist Area, visit Guangde Temple, feel the solemnity and tranquility of the "First Zen Temple in the West", and appreciate the Tang and Song Dynasty architectural layout style and precious cultural relics. Saturday afternoon: Go to Lingquan Temple to explore the quiet beauty of this ancient temple with a history of more than 1,400 years, stroll in the mountains, and appreciate the natural scenery and quaint buildings. Then go to Guanyin Lake Scenic Area and take a boat at Rhino Pier to enjoy the beautiful lake view. Saturday night: Come to Renli Water Village to experience the leisure and vacation atmosphere, enjoy the night view by the lake, and taste the special food. 📍Sunday morning: Visit the Sichuan Song Dynasty Porcelain Museum to admire rare Song Dynasty porcelains such as lotus leaf covered jars and green glazed plum bottles, and learn about Song Dynasty porcelain culture. Sunday afternoon: Go to Longfeng Ancient Town, stroll along the bluestone road, admire the Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings, experience folk culture, and taste Sichuan jelly, Guanyin vegetarian fried dough twist and other special snacks. 🍢Food recommendations Special snacks: Chong, Wuliangfen, Pengxi iron cake, Laochi panlong eel, etc. Chong has a variety of flavors, Wuliangfen is soft, glutinous and tender, Pengxi iron cake is sweet and delicious, Laochi panlong eel is crispy, fragrant and spicy. Special dishes: Anju jar meat, Paomatan Tuotuo fish, Shehong shredded beef, etc. are worth trying. Anju jar meat has a strong original flavor, Paomatan Tuotuo fish is spicy and smooth, and Shehong shredded beef has an excellent taste. Other delicacies: Suining casserole is also a local specialty, with rich varieties and delicious taste; there is also Zhuotongjing steamed pork intestines, which are fragrant and have a delicate taste.

Suining is a lesser-known tourist city. Compared to more popular cities, there are fewer people here, so you'll have a better experience! Here are some tourist attractions to check out: 1️⃣ Guangde Temple: Located at the foot of Wolong Mountain in Chuanshan District, Suining City, it is known as the "First Zen Forest in the West." The temple's architecture is rigorous, preserving a large number of architectural styles from the Tang and Song dynasties, as well as precious cultural relics such as Song steles, jade seals, and jade Buddhas. 2️⃣ Lingquan Temple: Located on Lingquan Mountain in the east of Suining City, it was built during the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty and is the hometown of Guanyin Bodhisattva. The temple is surrounded by mountains and water, with a tranquil environment, where you can experience the profound Buddhist culture. 3️⃣ Sichuan Song Porcelain Museum: The only national second-class museum dedicated to Song Dynasty porcelain, with the most distinctive Southern Song Dynasty kiln porcelain. 4️⃣ Guanyin Lake Wetland Park: The park is centered around Guanyin Lake, with a beautiful landscape of lakes and mountains, making it a great place for leisurely walks and enjoying natural scenery. 5️⃣ Shenglian Island: Known as the "Heart of the City" of Suining, it is home to the World Lotus Expo Park. In summer, when the lotus flowers are in full bloom, the entire island is covered in a sea of pink flowers, creating a spectacular view. 📍 Suining food recommendations Shehong beef: Carefully selected, made from locally raised yellow beef, marinated with special spices and cooked using unique techniques, it is spicy, fresh, and fragrant, with tender and juicy meat. Chuanshan tofu skin: Made from high-quality soybeans, it is as thin as a cicada's wing, with a rich bean aroma. It can be served cold, stir-fried, or cooked in soup. Cold tofu skin is sour, spicy, and refreshing, making it a great summer dish. Pengxi iron cake: A traditional snack with a crispy outer layer and tender, juicy inside, it is sweet and delicious, making it a great choice for breakfast or afternoon tea. Wozi cold noodles: A Suining specialty snack with a unique taste, it is sour, spicy, and delicious, making it a great summer dish and late-night snack.

◾️Between Chengdu and Chongqing, there is a low-key city - Suining ◾️It is the heart of Sichuan and Chongqing ◾️It has a rich history and cultural heritage ◾️Known as the hometown of Guanyin culture in China / 🔷If you come to Suining, you can spend half a day to visit one of Suining's landmark buildings, Guangde Temple 🔷Built on Wolong Mountain, from the foot of the mountain to the top, the temple is built along the mountain 🔷It has a history of nearly 1400 years 🔷Known as the first Zen forest in the west / ✅️ Travel Guide 👉What to see in Guangde Temple? 👉Six treasures of the thousand-year-old temple ◾️①Guanyin Jewel Seal: The first seal in the world bestowed by Emperor Zhenzong of Song, the enlarged version of the original is in the square, you can touch the golden seal for good luck ◾️②Imperial Edict Archway: Built in the Song Dynasty, the horizontal plaque has four golden characters "Imperial Edict Zen Forest" written by Yan Zhenqing, the archway has the words "Imperial Edict" written on it, and the archway is shaped like wings, it is the only "Imperial Edict Stele Archway" in the country ◾️③Nine Dragon Stele: The only Nine Dragon Stele discovered in China ◾️④Shanji Pagoda: A square pagoda, the most well-preserved Song Dynasty pagoda in China ◾️⑤Burmese Jade Buddha: The temple's high monk traveled alone for 29 years to Burma to bring it back ◾️⑥Ming Imperial Jade Seal: In the Jade Buddha Hall, it was once a jade seal for passing through four countries, very precious / ✅️Guangde Cultural and Creative 1️⃣🆓Receive blessing character sign 2️⃣You can experience copying scriptures 3️⃣Many stamps to collect, the stamp of the God of Wealth of Five Roads is already owned, looking forward to unearned wealth 4️⃣Chance to get a lucky lotus incense stone 5️⃣🆓Hanfu experience (only 20r cleaning fee) / ❌️Do not disturb the masters when taking photos ❌️Do not take pictures of the masters chanting collectively ✅️Keep quiet during the visit / ✅️About transportation 🚄Chongqing high-speed rail - Suining Station, 1h 🚌Bus No. 5 to Wolongshan Park Station, a few minutes walk to reach 🚗You can also take a taxi or drive to Guangde Temple ⭕️8:30-18:00 (last entry at 17:30)

Located in Suining, Sichuan, there is an ancient temple with a long history. The temple was originally built during the Tang Dynasty and is said to have been sealed 11 times by emperors from the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties. It contains 11 Ming and Qing Dynasty structures, making it a worthy place for worship and checking in. Temple Introduction: Guangde Temple is located on Guangde Road, Chuanshan District, Suining City, Sichuan Province. It was rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty and expanded several times during the Qing Dynasty. It is a Chinese royal Zen forest with architectural styles from the Tang and Song Dynasties. From the Tang Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, it was sealed by emperors 11 times and is revered as "The First Zen Forest of the West". Due to the historical and legendary stories of two Guanyins, Guangde Temple has become known as the hometown of Guanyin. The first story: Since the first year of Tang Yongtai (765), the high monk Master Keyou came to Suining to preside over the establishment of the temple and spread the teachings. After his passing in the third year of Tang Zhenyuan (787), records in the 'Master Keyou Biography' and 'Good Salvage Pagoda Record of Guangli Zen Temple in Suizhou' state that Master Keyou's flesh body pagoda was destroyed and turned into a pond, within which the holy image of Guanyin seemed to appear. The Prime Minister of Langya dug for the spiritual traces and found a hook-shaped bone like purple gold, which were all incarnations of the great Guanyin Bodhisattva, rebuilt into a pagoda. The second story: There is a local folk rhyme about Guanyin in Suining that has been passed down through generations: 'The Bodhisattva Guanyin and her two sisters, eating from the same pot, each cultivating their practice. The eldest sister cultivates at Lingquan Temple, the second sister at Guangde Temple, only the youngest sister cultivates far away, at Mount Putuo in the South Sea.' It is now the sixth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. Master Keyou: Keyou (727-787), secular name Li Wentong, was given the title 'Keyou' by Emperor Tang Dezong. He was the great-grandson of the female emperor Wu Zetian, the grandson of the fourth emperor of Tang, Emperor Zhongzong Li Zhe, and the nephew of Emperor Xuanzong. He was the fourth-generation successor of the Baotang Sect (one of the branches of Zen Buddhism) in the Shu region and was revered as the 'Protector of the Nation Zen Master'.

| The severely underestimated ancient temple in the mountain forest is open... Chengdu 1h Direct | The severely underestimated ancient temple in the mountain forest is open... Just around Chengdu, there is an ancient temple that has been severely underestimated Built against the mountain, with red walls and green tiles under ancient trees, and a comfortable cat on the eaves... The locals also like to come to this quiet and beautiful ancient temple. It's serene and tranquil, and a walk into the mountains can make your worries disappear like smoke! Guangde Temple Chengdu bullet train 1h direct to Suining station, 10min taxi ride to The incense is very popular at Guangde Temple, the Zen forest of the West coming from Suining, the hometown of Guanyin It was once the "royal temple" of officials and nobles... The temple has a history of nearly 1400 years and has been granted imperial seals 11 times by emperors. As soon as you enter, you can see the 'Imperially Bestowed Zen Forest' four-character stele written by Yan Zhenqing, which is very impressive!! tips: This time at the temple, I had a free experience of making lacquer fans, which was very interesting Making your own fan is both beautiful and satisfying Tour route tips↓ Follow the red wall and first go to get the temple's free incense and candles FREE Open guang hall and arranged a blessing string Q for myself, which is elegant and can boost qi~ Must-visit 'Guangde Cultural and Creative' where you can get FREE phone stickers, summoning § orders, handwritten blessing characters, copy scriptures by hand, stamp, and experience Hanfu... In the temple, there are 6 treasures: the Ming imperial jade seal, the Shanji Pagoda, the Imperial Edict Arch, the Burmese Jade Buddha, the Nine Dragons Stele... You can discover them while strolling around!! Photography X Do not take pictures of Buddha statues and monks in practice. Play civilly and do not disturb the masters practicing in the temple...

💫 Sisters, have you ever heard of Guangde Temple? This ancient temple is known as the first Zen forest from the west and is also the birthplace of Guanyin in China! 🙏 It has a history of nearly 1400 years, which is truly heart-stirring! 💖 🏞️ Stepping into Guangde Temple, you will be deeply shocked by the magnificent and towering Guanyin Dharma assembly. There's also the legendary 'Seal of the Land' treasure seal, which is both mysterious and sacred. 🕉️ Nestled on Wolong Mountain, this ancient temple is definitely worth spending half a day to savor and experience the tranquility and solemnity. ✨ 📝 Here comes the travel and check-in strategy! First, the incense offering place is right at the entrance, where you can easily spot it and where the temple's incense and candles are supplied. 🕯️ Guangde Temple is a royal Zen forest and has been honored with imperial seals 11 times by emperors throughout history! 👑 The unique 'Imperial Edict Stele Pavilion' within a temple in the country is right here, and the four characters 'Imperial Gift Zen Forest' were personally written by Yan Zhenqing! 🖋️ 🙏 If you have many wishes, consider visiting the Mahavira Hall and Guanyin Hall to welcome. In Guangde Cultural and Creative Store, you can also welcome items like the Eighteen Seeds, fragrance pouches, bamboo segments, and other auspicious items, which are great choices whether for personal use or as gifts for family members. 🎁 🎉 Don't forget to visit the Guangde Cultural and Creative Store, the only Suining cultural and creative store at present! 🎈 There are loads of Suining souvenirs and memorabilia waiting for you to choose from, and you can also experience Hanfu photography. The scenery of Guangde Temple is super photogenic! 📸 🔍 Inside Guangde Temple, there are six treasures waiting for you to discover! The Guanyin jewelry seal, Ming imperial jade seal, Shanji Pagoda, Imperial Edict Pavilion, Burmese jade Buddha, and Nine Dragons Stele are all hidden in various parts of the temple, like a treasure hunt that is exciting! 🏰 💡 A thoughtful tip: In Guangde Temple, you can also get free Guanyin mobile phone stickers, wealth tokens, handwritten blessing slips, enjoy the fun of copying scriptures, and even receive prayer cards from the Guanyin Temple Fair! That's really awesome! 🎉 📣 Finally, a reminder to everyone when visiting and taking photos, be sure to respect the temple's rules, do not disturb the resting monks, and do not take pictures of the monks' collective practice! 🙏 🚗 For transportation, after getting off the high-speed train at Suining Station, you can directly take a taxi or drive to the entrance of Guangde Temple, or take the No. 5 bus to Wolong Mountain Park Station, and then it's just a few minutes' walk to reach! 🚌 Come to Guangde Temple to feel the tranquility and solemnity! 🌸 You will definitely be deeply attracted by the ancient charm and mystery here! ✨

Sichuan is truly a treasure trove for travelers. Besides the well-known Jiuzhaigou and Dujiangyan, this time I also discovered an off-the-beaten-path destination - Guangde Temple in Suining. As the hometown of Guanyin, it has a profound historical and cultural heritage. Guangde Temple is also a royal temple, known as the premier Zen forest from the west. Moreover, many locals say that praying here brings 💰luck. After visiting enough popular spots, why not make a trip here? Its main appeal is sincerity brings spirituality. - 📍Location: Guangde Temple, Suining 🚄Transport: 1h high-speed train directly from Chengdu or Chongqing - Founded during the Tang Dynasty, it has a history of over 1400 years. The temple houses six major cultural relics that are the treasures of the temple. Among them is the imperial seal that stabilizes the mountain, and there's an enlarged version in the square. The temple's architecture retains the mortise and tenon structure, with soaring eaves and corners, majestic in appearance. When visiting Guangde Temple, be sure to walk around and look around. - What to do at Guangde Temple 🙏Pray for 💰luck: As a former royal temple and the hometown of Guanyin, it is said that this temple was where nobles and high officials came to pray for wealth, and their wishes were granted. 🙏At Guangde Cultural and Creative Center, you can also pray for the Eighteen Seeds and sachets, and it's the only cultural and creative shop in Suining. - tips: ✅Do not step on the thresholds inside the temple, and do not speak loudly. ✅Blessing activities: 1、🆓Receive Guanyin phone stickers, 💰inviting tokens, and handwritten blessing cards. 2、🆓Stamping, scripture copying. 3、Experience Hanfu, with a wide variety of styles to choose from, no 💰required, just a 20r cleaning fee. 4、During the Guanyin Festival, you can also receive a prayer card.

🙏 Blessed by the Imperial Edict This is the only temple in China that has an 'Imperial Edict Archway', with a gilded vertical plaque reading 'Imperial Edict' and a horizontal plaque titled 'Imperial Grant to the Zen Forest', both inscribed by Yan Zhenqing, a calligrapher from the Tang Dynasty. This is Guangde Temple, a landmark scenic spot in Suining, Sichuan. 🙏 Over a thousand years of prosperity Founded during the Tang Dynasty, Guangde Temple has produced many high monks and has been honored by the imperial courts of the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, receiving nine imperial seals from eleven emperors! It was also one of the earliest royal Zen forests designated by the court. Today, Guangde Temple still has eleven Ming and Qing dynasty buildings, ranking first in Sichuan. It is said that many pilgrims who come here to pray for official positions, academic success, and wealth have their prayers answered. 😉

Suining, this is an auspicious name, a land with a profound cultural heritage. It is the hometown of 'the master of literature in China,' Chen Zi'ang, and the famous 'Guanyin sacred site.' Throughout its long history, Suining has shone like a brilliant star, twinkling with dazzling light. 'Seven Great Ancient Wonders of Suining' Lingquan Temple: Located on the east side of Lingquan Mountain, it was founded at the beginning of the Sui Dynasty. It is named after the sacred spring on the top of the mountain. 'For a thousand years, Lingquan has been a sacred site, a famous attraction since the Tang Dynasty that surpasses all others.' Lingquan Temple has always been a Guanyin sacred site, known for its secluded mountains, lush forests, sweet springs, and ancient temple. The mountain is filled with Guanyin's sacred traces, such as the ancient cypress trees of the three Guanyin sisters, Guanyin Pavilion, Fan Yin Pavilion, Yin Yang Tomb, Three-Eyed Well, and many other fascinating landscapes. The temple is always bustling with worshippers, with morning bells and evening drums, and the chanting of sutras that refreshes the soul. Guangde Temple: Located at the foot of Wolong Mountain, it is a Buddhist holy land in central Sichuan. Since the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan era, this famous ancient temple has been consecrated by emperors from the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, earning it the title 'The First Zen Forest of the West.' It has produced many high monks and has always been a bustling place of worship. Built on the mountain, the temple has nine layers of halls, including ten ancient buildings from the Ming Dynasty and nine from the Qing Dynasty. The temple houses four treasures known as the 'Town Temple Treasures': the Song Dynasty stele, jade seal, jade Buddha, and the imperial decree plaque. Juefeng Temple Pagoda: Built on Juefeng Mountain in the south, also known as the White Pagoda, it is praised as 'a glance at Penglai.' The pagoda is a square, pavilion-style brick and stone structure, white in color, with 13 levels. Niches are opened above the second level, and the spire is topped with a treasure bottle. The pagoda is tall and well-preserved, having stood for over 800 years, fully reflecting the level of traditional Chinese architectural technology. Chen Zi'ang Reading Platform: Located in Jinhua Mountain, north of Shehong City, it was the place where Chen Zi'ang, the master of the Tang Dynasty, studied in his youth. Facing south with a north orientation, it has an asymmetrical quadrangle layout, divided into front, middle, and rear courtyards. The front courtyard consists of the gate arch, Gan Yu Hall, and corridors; the middle has the Shi Yi Pavilion and cloisters; the rear courtyard is centered around the Liu Xian Pavilion, with Wen Fu Pavilion to the east, Jing She Pavilion to the south, and Ming Yuan Pavilion to the north. The entire quadrangle is nestled among ancient cypresses and pines, serene and elegant, with the charm of a southern garden. Zhuo Tong Well: Located one kilometer east of Zhuo Tong Well Town in Daying County, its deep drilling and extraction technique was a great invention during the Northern Song Dynasty's Qingli era. 'Digging the ground and planting bamboo to create Zhuo Tong Wells' refers to the drilling technique of creating small-diameter salt wells deep underground using an impact method. The complete production process is preserved, marking a groundbreaking technological innovation of its time, known as 'China's fifth great ancient invention,' and included in the first batch of 'intangible cultural heritage' list. Baofan Temple: Located in Baofan Village, Baofan Town, west of Pengxi County, it was founded in the Northern Song Dynasty and originally named Luohan Court. In the first year of the Song Dynasty's Zhiping era, Emperor Yingzong bestowed the name, meaning 'the saint among Buddhas, the treasure among Brahmas.' Most of the temple's buildings are from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the most important being the Ming Dynasty murals and the Qing Dynasty's painted wooden ceiling. The Ming Dynasty mural 'Western Paradise' was created in the second year of the Ming Chenghua era. Originally twelve panels, ten are still preserved. It features 103 Buddhist figures, painted with fine brushwork and heavy colors, with gold leaf and powder, each figure vividly portrayed with lifelike expressions. It has a strong sense of life and extraordinary artistic charm, hailed as 'a representative work of Ming Dynasty murals in Sichuan.' Gaofeng Mountain: Located in Wenjing Town, north of Pengxi County, the mountain is rugged, with ancient cypresses reaching the sky, green corridors, and a long history. The Taoist culture is well-known, with connected pavilions, serene and elegant, known as the 'Maze of Northern Sichuan.' At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, the mountain was a place where Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexisted, creating a unique atmosphere for Gaofeng Mountain. Founded during the Tang Dynasty, the existing structures are mainly from the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. The entire complex is laid out according to the four main trigrams of Qian, Kun, Kan, and Li from the 'I Ching' or 'Book of Changes,' with over 400 doors, three levels, and intricate interconnections, full of mysterious Taoist principles, forming a celestial realm. It is a unique example among national religious buildings, truly a spectacle.

With nothing to do, I wandered around with a friend and unknowingly came to a temple from the side door. The temple is not big, but the buildings are densely packed, up to seven layers. Yes, this is Guangde Temple. Just wandering around, the biggest goal is to seek novelty. Under the urging of my friend, I only took a few quick shots for commemoration. But I didn't know that this place has a big background. This temple is a royal Zen forest that has been granted eleven times by the court. It was built during the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, and the initiator was the monk Ke You, the grandson of Tang Zhongzong and the nephew of Tang Xuanzong. Through the Humha Hall, it is the famous Imperial Edict Square, where monks of all dynasties welcome the imperial edict. Other temples have to go out of the temple gate to welcome the edict ten miles away, but here they only need to welcome it in the temple, which shows the extreme honor of Guangde Temple. The four golden characters of "Imperial Gift Zen Forest" on the top of the stele were personally written by the famous calligrapher Yan Zhenqing, with strong strokes, which is extremely precious. Guangde Temple has five treasures of the town temple: Imperial Edict Square, Myanmar Jade Buddha, Nine Dragon Stele, two imperial jade seals, and Shanji Tower. Because of time, we only got to see the Imperial Edict Square and Shanji Tower, which are pictures one and seven. The tower is a typical Buddhist building, a place to enshrine Buddhist statues, Buddha bone relics, Buddhist scriptures and other Buddhist relics. Its formation is related to the relics left after Sakyamuni was cremated. I believe everyone has guessed that the Shanji Tower here is the flesh tower of Ke You, which has remained intact for thousands of years. The first meeting was so chaotic, it seems that the Buddhist fate is still deep, and I have to come again in the future to continue the Buddhist fate.