Guoqing Temple — Attraction in Taizhou

the guojing temple is over a millennium old, as it was established during the tang dynasty, which lasted from 618 to 907 ad. this makes the temple more than 1,000 years old (!). as an active buddhist temple, it maintains a community of monks who reside on-site, engage in religious practices, perform rituals, and manage the temple's operations. the monks offer teachings, guidance, and support to visitors and pilgrims who come to the temple seeking spiritual guidance. I saw couple of them today engaged into chores, cleaning and also some who were rushing to have their classes.

the temple complex contains numerous historical buildings, statues, and artifacts that reflect the rich cultural heritage of tiantai buddhism and chinese buddhism in general. my favourite part about the temple is the peaceful environment. it is located in the forest, has numerous ancient trees distributed on its premises which offer wonderful setting for spiritual practice, including meditation, chanting, and sutra recitation.

in tiantai buddhism, nature is often seen as a manifestation of the buddha's teachings, reflecting the interdependent and impermanent nature of existence. the beauty and tranquility of natural landscapes serve as reminders of the dharma, encouraging contemplation, mindfulness, and a sense of interconnectedness with all...

Absolutely worth a visit. Bring your camera and a bottle water. Be mindful of the morals and beliefs that are still a strong virtue here (such as not stepping on the doorways (step over)). Take your time to read the information boards available to learn deep history. Only a few RMB to enter. If driving, recommend you tell security you are staying at the hotel just up the road and then walk, as opposed to walking all the way up the mountain road (my local contacts did this). In the summer time it is best to go in the morning...

A Buddhism temple of more than a thousand years old. It was tranquil and inviting. Beautiful art everywhere, and ancient trees everywhere. I enjoyed roaming around in this precious space, reading the poems carving on the walls, smelling the flowers of wintersweet trees, and admiring the ancient calligraphy. It was hard to...