If your China holidays lead you to Guangzhou, in southern China, you’ll have a chance to visit an ancient Bhuddist temple built in 537 AD. This temple has a fascinating history behind it…
Built during the Liang Dynasty and initially called Baozhuangyan Temple, the temple has its present name attributed during the Northern Song Dynasty. A writer by the name of Su Shi saw six banyan trees near the temple and so inscribed the name Liu Rong, meaning the Six Banyan Trees, on a tablet. It’s up above, in the picture. Hence the temple is now know as the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.
As you enter the Temple through the mountain gate, the famous Laughing Buddha is there to greet tourists in the Tianwang Hall. Behind this lies the Weituo Hall. Legend has it that a general by the name of Weituo recaptured the stolen Buddhist relics. A serious and a military type figure, an expressionless face can be seen on the statue of Weituo, a great distinction from that of the Laughing Buddha.
At the same site you’ll find the Six Banyan Pagoda. The Pagoda resembles a flower with its up-turned dark red roofs, like petals, and its tips resembling stamens, hence the popular name the Flowery Pagoda. This is an ideal site to take a look at the breath-taking scenery around the place. To the west is situated the main hall, the Daxion Boadian Hall. A notable attraction here is the three biggest copper Buddhist statues at the temple, symbolizing the past, present and future.
Each year during the Chinese traditional Spring Festival and Lantern Festival, the area is buzzing with the people burning joss sticks, which is a huge event here at the temple. Spending a few nights here site seeing and joining in the festivities would be a memorable choice. Well, you came all this way…you don’t want to just watch, do you?
There are quite a few tour and travel companies offering trips to the city of Guangzhou, and they all include Liu Rong Temple on their itineraries. Most of them can also help with accommodation and transportation advice and booking. Search ‘Guangzhou’ for more information.
Naveen Marasinghe
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