NYC Winter｜Chuang Yen Monastery ❄️🏮

We visited Chuang Yen Monastery just before its winter closure, and arrived in the midst of a gentle, steady snowfall.❤️ Temples in my memory have always been lively—filled with humid air, the scent of incense, and the murmur of crowds. But here, in the quiet of winter, only a few visitors wandered the grounds (perhaps because we arrived late in the day). The incense area and vegetarian kitchen were already closed, leaving the temple hushed and still. With each step, the only sound was the soft crunch of snow underfoot—as if all the noise of the world had been gently blanketed by white. It was a serene, almost surreal experience.😊 The monastery’s lake was completely frozen over. As someone from Guangdong, I finally understood—years later—the tranquil solitude described in "Snow Over the Lake Pavilion." Though I couldn’t help wondering how the giant koi fish were faring beneath the ice. 📍 Chuang Yen Monastery 🚗 About a 3.5-hour drive from Boston 🕙 Open 10am–3pm; vegetarian meals served only until 1pm 📷 No photography with cameras indoors If you seek a place of calm, a moment of stillness, or a touch of poetic winter beauty, this is a hidden gem worth the journey. A temple in snow feels like a secret between you and the season. #ChuangYenMonastery #NYWinter #UpstateNY #TempleVibes #SnowyDay #WinterSolitude #BuddhistTemple #QuietEscape #BostonDayTrip #NYDayGetaway #MeditativeMoment #SnowOverTheLake #WinterInNY #TempleInSnow #PeacefulRetreat