With a history that spans nearly 1,400 years, the enchanting Temple of Six Banyan Trees is one of Guangzhou’s four best Buddhist temples. Situated on the Liurong Road, it is home to a collection of unique cultural relics. Those staying at luxury hotels in Guangzhou such as Ascott Guangzhou, should make it a point to pay a visit to this landmark. Renowned the world over, the temple was rebuilt several times. The great litterateur Su Dongpo who visited the temple found six bayan trees here that stood out to him. This led to the temple getting its current name. Located within the temple is a pagoda referred to as Flowery pagoda or Six banyan Pagoda.
Visitors can enter the temple through the Mountain gate and the first hall they see when they do so is the Tianwang Hall. When they make their way to its back side the Weituo Hall can be seen with a statue of Weituo, a general responsible for recapturing the Buddhist relics that were stolen back in the day.
The feature with the most striking architectural design in the temple is the Six Banyan Pagoda. Featuring Buddhist relics and a curved roof that resembles dark red flower petals, the pagoda is truly a sight to behold. Besides having such an alluring design it also allows visitors to take in the enchanting scenery that surrounds.
Daxiong Baodian Hall can be seen to the left of the Six Banyan Pagoda. It is where the three largest copper Buddhist statues are kept. These statues respectively represent the present, past and future.
Each year during the Lantern Festival and Chinese traditional Spring Festival, the temple is visited by many devotees who come to light joss sticks and receive the blessings of gods for the new starting year and other purposes.
Thanuja Silva is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Auburn Silver. She has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.