A quick visit to one of Guangzhou’s temples
When I was departing China in 2014, to return home to Australia, I did a tour of various provinces to farewell my colleagues and during my trip to Guangzhou Province, I was taken for a quick visit to one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the capital.
It’s overlooked by a typical Chinese residential building…small windows, washing hanging on the balconies and pretty run down on the outside [but I just love them and much prefer them to the modern residential apartment blocks with nothing to admire but big glass windows).
Guangxiao Si (Bright Obedience Temple) has a history dating back some 1700 years and built before the existence of Guangzhou city. It was initially built during the Western Han Dynasty as a private house and later used as a lecture hall before being dedicated completely as a Zen Buddhist Temple during the Southern Song Dynasty. Then again in the 1980s, the temple was reoccupied by Buddhist monks.
The architecture of the temple and cultural relics provide a good insight into the history of Chinese Buddhism.
The grounds comprise many buildings and whilst it only took a little while to walk through, I am glad I got to visit – it’s always nice to see something so old even though some parts are refurbished. There are also many trees within the grounds which are really beautiful and incredibly old.
It’s a place to visit if you have the time.
Lignum Draco said:
A lovely looking temple. Surprisingly, so few people around.
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feralc4t said:
A pleasant visit, Thanks 🙂
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carentaylor said:
Looks like a lovely little temple, so much history and beautiful grounds, it’s nice it’s in use again with the monks
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you!!!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Yes too right, especially for China.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Yes very true. You always write lovely and thoughtful comments Caren. Thank you.
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Amy said:
Beautiful temple architecture. It says so much of the cultural and long history of China.
Thank you for the tour, Sue! 🙂
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Little Miss Traveller said:
Just love these Buddhist temples!
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sileas said:
I must admit, that run down apartment building has a certain rough charm. I always find it very interesting when old and new elements are next to each other…
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kokodynia said:
I do hope that this splendid, old architecture in China will survive this “flood” of ugly apartments buildings! I saw thrilling documentary film on it…
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carentaylor said:
It’s so lovely to see your adventures Sue, whether an historical place or checking out a lovely eatery…better still LOL …BOTH!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you Amy.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Thank you for stopping by.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Me too. I actually love seeing them and photographing them too.
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Me too. It’s so sad the old buildings especially the courtyard homes in Beijing are being demolished.
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africatrails said:
Interesting, and I’m looking forward to visiting it!
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SueT唐 梦 琇 said:
Great. Hope you do. Thank you for visiting.
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