[2025 Putian Attraction] Travel Guide for Guanghua Temple (Updated Mar)

The Nanshan Guanghua Temple in Putian is a famous ancient temple with a history of over a thousand years. It is one of the four great Buddhist monasteries in Fujian, along with Gushan Temple in Fuzhou, Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen, and Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou. Nanshan Guanghua Temple was founded in the second year of Yongding in the Southern Chen Dynasty, nearly 1,500 years ago, making it the oldest Buddhist temple in Putian's history. Throughout history, Guanghua Temple has been given names by two emperors: In the second year of Jingyun in the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Ruizong of Tang bestowed the name "Lingyan Temple" and commissioned the calligrapher Liu Gongquan to write a plaque, which was hung above the temple gate. From then on, Lingyan Temple became famous throughout the land and was known as a major Buddhist monastery in Fujian. In the first year of Taiping Xingguo in the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizong bestowed the name "Guanghua Temple." At its peak, the temple consisted of two temples, ten courtyards, and one hundred and twenty hermitages, housing over a thousand monks and nuns. However, over its thousand-year history, Guanghua Temple inevitably suffered from natural and man-made disasters such as fires and earthquakes. It wasn't until the 1980s that the main buildings of Nanshan Guanghua Temple were finally restored. Today, Nanshan Guanghua Temple is located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, three kilometers south of Putian City. The entire temple complex ascends gradually along the mountain slope, with the temple buildings and mountain vegetation interspersed harmoniously, giving a more concrete meaning to the term "Buddhist monastery." Guanghua Temple has "three treasures": the Sakyamuni Pagoda, the giant forged bell in the bell tower, and the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats.

📍Location: Guanghua Road, Chengxiang District, Putian City, Fujian Province 📅Best time to visit: Spring and autumn, when the climate is pleasant - Putian Guanghua Temple, initially built during the Tang Dynasty, boasts a rich history and stands as a renowned Buddhist holy site in Fujian Province. In recent years, the temple has undergone extensive renovations and transformations, preserving its traditional architectural style while incorporating modern design elements, giving the entire temple a fresh new look. Stepping into Guanghua Temple is like traveling through time. The antique buildings blend seamlessly with modern facilities, creating a refreshing experience. Every detail within the temple has been meticulously designed, offering a sense of tranquility to both devout believers and casual visitors. - 💡Tips: ·Please respect the temple's religious customs, maintain silence, and refrain from loud conversations. ·Dress respectfully and avoid overly revealing clothing. ·Learning about Buddhist culture beforehand can enhance the depth and enjoyment of your visit. Of course, simply admiring the beauty of the temple is also a great experience.

Babies, the Putian five-day tour guide is here! Super practical guide, take you to play in Putian without stepping on thunder, hurry up and collect it! -------- 📅Travel itinerary: D1: Meizhou Island - Golden Beach Visit the mysterious Meizhou Island, feel the island style, go to the Golden Beach in the evening, enjoy the sunset, and enjoy the fun of the seaside. D2: Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple - Jiuli Lake Scenic Area Visit the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple and appreciate the charm of Mazu culture. Then go to the Jiuli Lake Scenic Area to explore the lake and mountains, and feel the tranquility and beauty of nature. D3: Meifeng Temple - Nanshan Guanghua Temple Visit the ancient Meifeng Temple and taste the charm of Buddhist culture. Then go to Nanshan Guanghua Temple to appreciate the solemnity and sanctity of the temple and feel the cleansing of the soul. D4: Nanzhi Island Enjoy a full day on Nanzhi Island, enjoy the island scenery, explore the unique landscapes on the island, and feel the unique charm and leisurely atmosphere of the island. D5: Southern Shaolin Temple On the last day, visit the Southern Shaolin Temple, appreciate the style of the hometown of martial arts, feel the shock and charm of Shaolin Kung Fu, and draw a perfect end to the journey. -------- Some tips: 🛫 Airport transportation: The Putian to Changle Airport intercity railway has been opened, which is fast and convenient, and the travel time is greatly shortened! 🎁 Specialty prices: When buying local specialties, you might as well shop around to avoid spending money on wrong things~ 🌦️ November climate: The climate in Putian in November is suitable, but there are occasional showers, remember to bring rain gear🌂, just in case. 📸 Photo spots: It is recommended to go to the seaside and parks in Putian, the scenery is super beautiful, and you can easily take a big picture! Don't miss the sunset🌅, it's simply a paradise for photography lovers! -------- Okay, here is an ending that meets your requirements: 🎉Come and follow me to unlock more Putian travel guides, make your trip more exciting, don't miss it!✨

🌈🌈🌈Putian Nanshan Guanghua Temple Location: At the foot of Phoenix Mountain, 3 km south of Putian City 🚇Transportation: Taxi 🎫Tickets: Free ⏰Opening hours: 8:30–17:00 ⌚️Duration: About 1.5 hours 🔶Temple highlights ✔️Shakyamuni Pagoda: Built in 1165 (Quanzhou East and West Pagodas were built in 1200+), a Song Dynasty octagonal five-story hollow stone pagoda in imitation of wooden pavilions, the double-headed Kalavinka (a bird with a human head) on the pagoda is a feature ✔️Stone-carved pagoda: Sunlight Bodhisattva and Moonlight Bodhisattva ✔️Fangsheng Stone Bridge: Both sides are Fangsheng Ponds ✔️Tusita Palace: Dedicated to Maitreya Buddha ✔️Fangyan Stone Sutra Pillar: Original Song Dynasty object ✔️Red wooden fish with dragon head and fish tail: Original object from the Ming and Qing Dynasties ⭐️Tips 1. Park at the "Jietuo" gate, parking is free, incense is free, tickets are free, and vegetarian meals are free 2. Friends who need to worship do not need to buy extra incense, the temple provides it for free, just insert one in each incense burner 3. When entering the temple, do not wear too short clothes, and do not take pictures of the Buddha statues

When mentioning Putian, people always talk about its manufacturing industry But actually, as a tourist destination There are still many places to play If you don't want to go to Quanzhou and squeeze with the crowd Putian is a good niche destination Because the weather was bad when I went I couldn't go to Meizhou Island, I'll find another chance to go next time . 🔸Banfu Sheng Tea Garden The tea garden is located halfway up the mountain, with a quiet environment Facing Dongzun Reservoir, backed by green mountains It's suitable to come in the evening to drink tea and watch the sunset Just in summer 🦟 there are a bit too many mosquitoes, remember to bring mosquito repellent . 🔸Xinghua Ancient Street The ancient street at night 🏮 is full of flickering lights and bustling crowds It feels like walking into the thousand-year-old prosperous years of Putian It's not very commercial, but it's not very large in scale either . 🔸Guqiao Tower It looks a bit like Chaoyang Tower in Jianshui And also a bit like Tiananmen in Beijing There is a very neat square dance in the square opposite at night . 🔸Nanshan Guanghua Temple A thousand-year-old temple, one of the "Four Great Forests of Fujian" Shakyamuni Buddha Pagoda, Stone Sutra Pillar, and Zheng Sanxian Ancestral Hall The stone pagoda is very similar to the stone pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou It's suitable for a slow stroll of 2-3 hours . 🔸Dongshan Baoen Temple The stone pagoda in the temple is 68 years earlier than the Shakyamuni Buddha Pagoda It has stood firm through a thousand years of vicissitudes and an 8-magnitude earthquake There are many controversial little "stories" here

Putian, historically known as 'Xinghua', is listed as a national historical and cultural city, known as the 'Seashore Zou Lu, a famous state of literature', with a history of building the city for over 1500 years, accumulating a rich and diverse historical and cultural heritage. Here, buildings from various dynasties stand interwoven; here, the cultural lineage of Puyang has been passed down through generations. A thousand years of Mazu worship, a thousand years of water conservancy, a thousand years of ancient temples, a thousand years of street blocks, a thousand years of family instructions, a thousand years of opera, a thousand years of ancient lychee; stepping into a thousand years of Putian, encountering the charm of millennia, feeling the beauty of humanities. (If you want to learn more about Putian culture, it is recommended to take a look at the book 'Why is Putian Unique', which visually presents the distinctive Putian to us with pictures and texts) All the above pictures were taken at Nanshan Guanghua Temple in Putian, and those interested can learn more about this thousand-year-old temple. Nanshan Guanghua Temple, founded in the second year of Yongding of the Southern Dynasties Chen (558), was originally a place for lectures by local notable Zheng Lu and his three brothers (collectively known as 'The Three Gentlemen of Nanhu'). Later, it was donated to Zen Master Jin Xian (the founding patriarch) and named Jin Xian Yuan. In the ninth year of the Sui dynasty's Kaihuang era (589), it was expanded with funds raised by Zen Master Wuji from Mount Tiantai and renamed Jin Xian Temple. In the first year of Taiping Xingguo of Emperor Taizong of Song (976), it was renamed Guanghua Temple by imperial decree. Guanghua Temple is a famous thousand-year-old temple, ranked alongside Fuzhou Gushan Temple, Xiamen Nanputuo Temple, and Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple as one of the four great Buddhist monasteries in Fujian. In 1983, Nanshan Guanghua Temple was designated by the State Council as a national key Buddhist temple in Han Chinese areas. In 1990, Putian Guanghua Temple was listed by the Chinese Buddhist Association as the top of the three national model temples. (Excerpt from Baidu Baike)

🏞️ Next to the bustling Quanzhou lies a tranquil and lesser-known Southern Fujianese scroll of charm—Putian. When the hustle and bustle of Quanzhou make you yearn for a moment of peace, the 26-minute high-speed train ride to Putian is your next fairyland Gateway🚄. Here, the profound cultural heritage is understated and reserved, worthy of exploration and appreciation by every deep traveler. 📝 Putian One-Day Tour Highlights: Gentle Water Town·Dongfang Twenty-Five Slopes → Zen Serenity·Dongshan Baoyuan Temple🕌 → Sea Goddess Sanctuary·Dongshan Meizhou Mazu Palace🏰 → Millennium Ancient Temple·Nanshan Guanghua Temple🏯 → Historical Imprint·Sakyamuni Buddha Pagoda🗼 → Ancient Charm·Shouxi Ancient Bridge🌉 → Time Mark·Guqiao Tower🏰 → Revitalized Energy·Xinghua Prefecture Old Street🏘️ ❤️ Dongfang Twenty-Five Slopes: Known as the "Eastern Venice" and "Hanjiang's Little Shanghai", the intertwining of ancient architectural clusters and the rich Southern Fujianese lifestyle here is captivating🥰. The best time is at dusk, when the light and shadow turn the corridors into a picturesque scene, a paradise for photography enthusiasts📸. Additionally, the nearby rounded residential buildings are also a favorite subject for the camera. 📜 Dongshan Baoyuan Temple & Dongshan Meizhou Mazu Palace: The thousand-year-old Baoyuan Temple, despite the test of time and earthquakes, still maintains its tranquility and simplicity🌄, distinctly different from commercialized temples. The adjacent Mazu Palace, a Song Dynasty heritage, carries numerous solemn and sacred Mazu worship ceremonies🙏. Both are open to the public for free, offering a glimpse into the profound religious culture. 🎈 Nanshan Guanghua Temple & Sakyamuni Buddha Pagoda: These two ancient sites tell the long-standing stories of Southern Fujian📖. Nanshan Guanghua Temple, a monastery dating back to the Southern Dynasties, has weathered 1600 springs and autumns, still dignified and steady🏮. The Sakyamuni Buddha Pagoda, with its pagoda-style design and stone structure, has withstood the test of time🌧️, extraordinary in its depth. Both are open to the public for free, inviting you to step into the river of history. 🌉 Shouxi Ancient Bridge: The Song Dynasty-built Yanshou Bridge, like an unfinished ancient ballad🎶, still flows with old charm. Located in the beautiful Shouxi Park🌳, you can stroll and enjoy it for free all year round, participate in traditional New Year activities🎉, or even boat through it, savoring the unique riverside scenery. 🏰 Time Guardian·Guqiao Tower: The landmark ancient building standing next to Xinghua Prefecture Old Street—Guqiao Tower🏯, bears witness to the city's changes with its long history. Open to the public for free, it is an important stop on the journey to explore Putian👣. 🍜 Flavor of Humanity·Xinghua Prefecture Old Street: This ancient street, brimming with local characteristics, not only gathers various intangible cultural heritage exhibition halls and a dazzling array of snack stalls🍲, but also becomes more lively and interesting at night, with folk performances taking turns on stage🎭. Whether you're looking to eat or experience folklore, this place is also open for free, offering a comprehensive immersive experience. Putian, this ancient city hidden behind the halo of Quanzhou, is attracting the world with its unique tranquility and simplicity🌍. In this brief yet fulfilling journey, you will not only experience the charm of Southern Fujianese culture🎨 but also find a sense of inner peace and deep reverence for traditional culture in ancient temples, mottled stone bridges, and bustling yet traditional old streets🙇‍♂️.

Putian Guanghua Temple feels like worshipping in an imperial palace, with its architectural scale and grandeur being extraordinarily unusual. Guanghua Temple was founded during the Southern Dynasties, with a history of over 1,600 years. Its most distinctive feature is its large area, a spatial scale that is rare among temples in China. The temple is located on Phoenix Mountain in Putian, with a majestic main building and extremely spacious auxiliary structures on both sides. Along the central axis, ascending the mountain, from the screen wall, archway, mountain gate, life-release pond, Hall of Heavenly Kings, to the Mahavira Hall, it particularly resembles the ancient emperors going to court, with an imposing and magnificent presence. Guanghua Temple is like a MAX version of a Buddhist temple, as it is not constrained by space and basically incorporates all elements of Buddhist temple architecture. On the east side of the auxiliary buildings, there are the East Arhat Hall, Bell Tower, Wuguang Hall, Jialan Hall, Zunkang, Shuiyunxiang, Yuantong Gate, and Xisheng Pavilion. On the west side, there are the West Arhat Hall, Drum Tower, Xuejie Hall, Ancestral Master Hall, Jingxing Hall, Yanxia Cave, Abbot's Room, and Kanshan Tower. Nanshan Guanghua Temple has a very strong aura, and it is the most kingly Buddhist temple I have ever seen.

Explore the history of Putian and feel the New Year's atmosphere and the liveliness of Prefecture Historical and Cultural District visit the crown of Fujian temples that dates back to the Southern Dynasties, Guanghua Temple Xinghua Prefecture Historical and Cultural District: The ancient street is very commercialized now, with lots of snacks and small shops The former site of the first branch of the Communist Party in central Fujian: Only the exterior can be viewed Yuanmiao Temple: Open for visits (but only the exterior during the New Year), a historical building that was founded during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era, feels like it would be worth entering Qiaolou: Originally built in the Northern Song Dynasty, one of the most intact large-scale drum towers in China, visitors can climb the tower, which has many square tables and long benches for resting Nanshan Guanghua Temple: Located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, a thousand-year-old ancient temple, see history in the old temple, with 🆓 tea 🍵 tips: Parking is not convenient in Xinghua Prefecture, you can look for nearby malls, and surrounding attractions are within walking distance (except Nanshan Guanghua Temple) Nanshan Guanghua Temple has an underground parking lot Tickets are all 🆓

【Putian Nanshan Guanghua Temple】We arrived in Putian yesterday, what comes to mind when you mention Putian? Haha! The shoe capital of China!!! Many famous brands like Nike, Adidas, etc. are produced here, but we didn't have time to visit the Shoe World Mall. After putting down our luggage, we had a meal of "four dishes", the freshly fried oyster omelette was superb! Then we drove to Nanshan Guanghua Temple, from a distance, the car still stopped we saw the tower, Annie said: This tower only has four floors, Old Rice replied: There must be one floor underground, haha, indeed, it's a sinking style. We just arrived in Quanzhou today, we went to Kaiyuan Temple to see the twin towers, I immediately said: Ah, at a glance, the Shakyamuni Pagoda of Putian Guanghua Temple really can't compare with the Zhen Guo Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple. The side of the gate of Guanghua Temple is hung with the plaque of Fujian Buddhist College, I guess the old-fashioned building built behind the temple is the Buddhist College. Perhaps because of the Buddhist College here, there are many people chanting sutras in the Dharma Hall in the afternoon, when I went, the door was closed, I could only hear the sound. Later, I caught them coming out after the end, apart from the monks, most of them are elderly women, dressed in layman's clothes. They put their shoes and bags at the door, seemingly not worried about safety. The last picture is specially taken by me, you can feel that some details here seem to imitate Japanese temples, but I am very upset about the dirty phenomenon in many backyards of Chinese temples! It can be broken, it can be poor, but it can't be dirty!