Hanshan Temple

Hanshan Temple is located ten miles west of Suzhou City in Fengqiao Town and belongs to the Linji school of Zen Buddhism. During the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan era, the renowned monks Hanshan and Shide founded the temple, which houses numerous ancient relics, including stone inscriptions by Zhang Ji, stone statues of Hanshan and Shide, fragments of inscriptions written by Wen Zhengming and Tang Yin, among others. It was once one of the top ten famous temples in China. Attraction Information: Address: No. 24 Hanshan Temple Alley, Gusu District, Suzhou City Ticket Price: 20 yuan per person Opening Hours: 7:30-16:30 (Entry stops at 16:00 and the garden is cleared at 16:30) Transportation: Take Metro Line 1 to the 9002 community bus East Line, or take bus 313/301/33 and get off at Heshan Bridge or Laifeng Bridge, then navigate to Hanshan Temple by car. Travel Tips: Burning Incense for Blessings 1. After entering through the west gate, the incense burning area is right at the main entrance of the Grand Hall. A family blessing incense is 80 yuan per set, which can be purchased outside the temple or brought by yourself. It is recommended to worship clockwise from all sides, using the left hand to light the incense and place it in the censer 2. To the left after entering is the Arhat Hall, where you can find an arhat with whom you feel a connection and bow three times 3. In the Bell Tower, you can ring the bell for blessings, 5 yuan for 3 rings. On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, there is a bell-ringing ceremony of 108 rings, which is said to symbolize the elimination of 108 kinds of worries 4. In the Sutra Copying Hall, you can copy sutras for free. The hall is located next to the Vegetarian Hall, and copying takes about half an hour. Once finished, place the copied sutras in the cabinets on both sides 5. Feed the koi for 10 yuan per pack. After purchasing the fish food, you can feed the koi up close and share in their good fortune. Note that one pack of feed should only be fed by one person 6. At the Dharma Items Distribution Center, you can purchase a string of eighteen beads for 50 yuan per string, with an orderly queue Experience Review: Outside Gusu City lies Hanshan Temple, where the midnight bell tolls reach the guest boats. I thought it was famous just for a poem, but it was a great surprise! Travel Feelings: Listening to the bell inside the hall truly allows one to calm down and feel the most authentic self. Just find a place to sit and watch different people praying and kneeling, experiencing the tranquility of the temple.

| Autumn in Suzhou begins with Hanshan Temple. When you feel the cool breeze, it's the time when autumn quietly arrives🍂. "The moon sets, crows cry and frost fills the sky; maple trees and fishermen's lights reflect my troubled sleep." In the must-visit list for autumn appreciation🎞, Hanshan Temple in Suzhou is definitely a renowned spot🔥. · 🕌🕌Hanshan Temple 🗺Address: Fengqiao Road, Gusu District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province · Autumn in Suzhou begins at Hanshan Temple🕌. When an autumn breeze blows the ancient bell in the temple tower overnight🔔, in an instant, bright yellow leaves flutter down, and the red maples set off the corner pavilions, presenting a vivid autumn oil painting🎨. The autumn days at Hanshan Temple are truly suitable for leisurely autumn appreciation. Light pink and bright yellow form the main color scheme of the temple🎈, with the bright yellow complementing the yellowing leaf tips. The warm sun of autumn frolics on the walls and eaves, twinkling with a comforting warm light. Take a deep breath, and the inconspicuous osmanthus flowers hidden among the trees, carrying an intoxicatingly strong fragrance, vie to enter your lungs. And it's not just the osmanthus that's bursting with lively energy, but also the pond full of koi and the cats that can be seen everywhere🐱~ The cats lazily enjoy the autumn sun☀, and if you get hungry, go for a bowl of the temple's unique vegetarian noodles🍜. Even simple food can bring you great satisfaction!

In mid-January, we arrived in Suzhou, Jiangsu We visited the Hanshan Temple, known for the verse 'Outside Gusu city, Hanshan Temple's bell tolls reach the passenger boats at midnight,' enjoyed the scenery, and fed the koi We went to Pingjiang Road, full of Jiangnan charm, tried on Hanfu, and tasted Suzhou-style snacks We strolled along Shantang Street at night with its dimming lights, and felt the breeze of Suzhou ... The most satisfying part of this trip was the homestay we chose. It was clean and sanitary, with a duplex structure, Nordic style, warm and comfortable indoors, and it was also very cheap! Just over a hundred yuan in price! Overall, I am very satisfied with this trip! I love Suzhou so much!

#chinatrip Located in Gusu district in Suzhou, Han Shan temple that built for over 1300 years, covering 13000 square meters is one of the top 10 famous temple in China. It has gained its popularity among the Chinese people because of a poem from a famous poet, Zhang Ji from Tang Dynasty and nowadays, it has been written all over the temples by many poets in variety of fonts. Besides that, the temple is famous with a super giant bell that allows the believer to ring it and pray to get the blessing from the god. Right opposite of it, a super huge monument writing the poem on it is also towering over to commemorate ZhangJi. If you travel to Suzhou, make sure you put it in your list and spend a least 2-3 hours to explore the poetic and picturesque place♥️ Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The impression of Hanshan Temple probably all comes from this poem 'Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night'. 🚊🚊Hanshan Temple: No. 24, Hanshan Temple Lane, Gusu District, Suzhou City Time⌚️7:30-16:30 【Transportation】 Subway: Metro Line 1 > Community Bus East Line 9002 Bus: Route 313/301/33 Get off at Heshan Bridge or Laifeng Bridge. The vegetarian noodles 🍜 are quite popular and served quickly, the taste is generally sweet, if you like spicy food, remember to add chili oil, it's very fragrant Recommended Route: Both east and west gates of Hanshan Temple are accessible, it is recommended to enter from the west and exit from the west (do not exit from the east gate), so not only are all the attractions visited in order, but you can also quickly reach the Maple Bridge scenic area when you leave. From west to east, the attractions are in order: Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings (with Arhat Halls and Guanyin Temple on both sides) -- Grand Hall of the Great Sage - Hanshi Spring, Wenzhong Pavilion (on the left), Bell Tower - Hehe Ancestral Court - Maple Bridge scenic area. Turning right out of the west gate, you can see a quaint building filled with the charm of the Jiangnan region, pass through the alley and turn left to reach the famous Quan Bridge, where 'Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night' took place, and there is no admission fee, worth a visit if time allows. Important tips: It is not recommended to drive! It's very congested on holidays and weekends! Luggage storage point: No. 902, Fengqiao Road, Gusu District, about 150 meters from Hanshan Temple. Prepare some cash. Koi fish: 10 yuan to buy food to feed the koi Stamping, at the entrance of the vegetarian restaurant (free) and Night Mooring Sweet Soup Shop (stamp available with purchase) Self-service audio guides are available for rent at the west gate entrance, 25 yuan each

#chinatrip After visiting the 1000years temple - Hanshan Temple, there is this huge bell that is actually the sub-site of this temple. Reason being the chinese poem does mention the sound of the bell that reminded the poet about the arrival of the ship by the ship deck at late hour while waiting for someone that poet misses. The huge bell was covered in a small pagoda and were well kept for its purpose. To add-on, there is this huge stone carved with the poem about less than 200metres away. Strongly recommend to also visit this place before leaving to next destination.

These are a few more shots from my last trip to the Hanshan temple! where I went exploring around the Hanshan temple. the Hanshan Temple is situated three miles (about five kilometers) from Fengqiao Old Town in Suzhou. A question some people might ask is, why is it called the Hanshan temple. Well It is said that in the Tang Dynasty, a famous monk Han Shan came to take charge of the temple, hence its name. This place is known for its rich sense of history and culture such as the annual ringing of the temple bells to signify the entrance into the new year. Another thing you can do at Hanshan is to take a boat tour of the place to see the sights while enjoying the peaceful boat cruise! #suzhou #scenicspotguide #hanshantemple #travelinspiration

🌟Highlights: Burning incense and worshiping Buddha, ringing bells, copying scriptures, eating vegetarian noodles, feeding carp. 📝Tips: ❗️Copying scriptures is free, there are two places to do it, 1️⃣ one is next to the vegetarian noodle restaurant, 2️⃣ one is near the side exit, the 2⃣️ place closes at 4 o'clock, and they won't let you in after 3 o'clock, there are three types of scriptures to copy, you can choose freely. ❗️If you are queuing when you go to the vegetarian noodle restaurant, don't book in advance online, the price is the same, the serving of group purchases is very slow, it will be faster to sit down and scan the code to order after queuing. I only went there to check in with the poem 'Outside the city of Gusu is the Hanshan Temple, the bell rings at midnight to the passenger ship', but I didn't expect to be attracted by the copying of scriptures after I got there. Copying scriptures really calms the mind, those who are interested can try it.

"Outside the Gu Su city lies the Cold Mountain Temple, at midnight the bell rings for the passing boats" - How can one claim to have been to Suzhou without visiting the Cold Mountain Temple outside the city? The temple is not big, but the incense is very strong. Some people say that it is most effective to pray for marriage here. So the young talents who kneel in front of the Buddha become the incense guests here. 🌟Highlight features: In history, Hanshan Temple was once one of the top ten famous temples in China, with many ancient relics and stone inscriptions inside the temple. Every year there is a bell-ringing ceremony for New Year's Eve. Some say there are 108 worries in a year, and in Buddhist scriptures it says "Hearing the sound of the bell, worries are cleared, wisdom grows, and enlightenment arises." On this day, ringing the bell 108 times can eliminate all worries. 🕙Business hours: Early 7, late 6, park entry stops at 17:30. 📍Detailed address: Suzhou City, Gusu District, Fengqiao Road. 📝Attention tips: It's best to find a guide to get a deeper understanding of the representative of this city. You will gain a lot during the two-hour tour.

This was one of the most aesthetically impressive places that I’ve been privileged to fly my drone at. this majestic place is located in the Gusu district of Suzhou China. This is a Buddhist temple and Monastery characterized by its wonderful Chinese structures and its rich traditions and culture. The current name of the monastery derives from Hanshan, the legendary monk and poet. Knowing all this, I was sure that I had to make the trip to see It for myself, and of course I took my drone with me so I would be able to get a unique perspective of the whole experience! The general temple are was free to enter, except for the main temple which I could only properly capture from an aerial perspective. #suzhou #scenicspotguide #china #travelinspiration #temples #hanshantemple

📍Suzhou·Landmark check-in On the first day, we start from the historic Humble Administrator's Garden🌳 and Lingering Garden🌿, feeling the charm of classical gardens. The exquisite and delicate design and the ingenious layout of one step at a time are breathtaking!✨ 🍽️Food exploration At lunchtime, of course, you can't miss tasting the authentic squirrel mandarin fish🐟 and eel paste🍲. Remember to taste the old brands in Pingjiang Road Hutong, full of Jiangnan flavor, which is unforgettable😋. 🚶‍♀️Ancient city tour In the afternoon, stroll on the stone road under the dusk of Shantang Street, admire the antique buildings and a wide variety of specialty shops. Here, you seem to have traveled to the bustling market in ancient Jiangnan, where time is quiet and comfortable😊. 🔍Cultural tracing On the second day, go to the Suzhou Museum👀 early in the morning, the masterpiece of Master Ieoh Ming Pei, where modern and classical are perfectly integrated. Then, ring the bell to pray for blessings at Hanshan Temple🕰️, and experience the beauty of the Zen meaning of tranquility. In the evening, take a boat tour of the Pingjiang historical and cultural block surrounded by the city moat, listen to a pipa commentary under the moonlight, and enjoy the poetic life of 'small bridges, flowing water, and people' ✨🌅 🎁Travel tips Don't forget to bring an oil-paper umbrella☂️, which can shade the sun and rain, and also take beautiful photos~ Remember to book scenic spot tickets in advance, plan your itinerary reasonably, and make your journey more relaxed and happy😊. Suzhou, this ancient city of a thousand years is waiting for your exploration and discovery with her unique charm. Come on, let's step into this flowing ink painting and experience an unforgettable 2-day and 1-night trip to Jiangnan💫!

Usually, I climb mountains by myself and rarely accompany the 'leader'. This holiday, I decided to travel with her. The 'leader' wanted to go to Hangzhou, but I suggested Suzhou since we had been to Hangzhou many times, and she agreed happily. We bought the last train tickets to Suzhou, leaving us plenty of time to catch the train, but unexpectedly, the traffic was terrible! It wasn't until we passed Wangguanzhuang that the traffic sped up. After getting off the train, we both ran wildly to the platform, just as the train was about to depart. We arrived at Suzhou North Station at eleven o'clock at night, the subway had stopped running, so we had to take a taxi to the city center, and by the time we finished checking into the hotel, it was already past midnight. The first day, we went to Tiger Hill first. The 'leader' suggested we walk there and stroll along Shantang Street. Shantang Street starts from Changmen Ferry in the east and extends to Wangshan Bridge at Tiger Hill in the west, about seven li long, commonly known as the Seven-Li Shantang to Tiger Hill. The street is described as 'goods piled like mountains, shops with hanging signs, brilliant as brocade, red railings and tiered buildings, willow fluff and the sound of flutes'. Cao Xueqin referred to the Shantang area as 'the foremost place of wealth and romance in the mortal world' in 'Dream of the Red Chamber'. Emperor Qianlong also had a special fondness for it, mentioning Shantang in nine of his poems. Legend has it that three days after the burial of King Helü of Wu, a white tiger was seen lying on his tomb, hence the name Tiger Hill. The poem says: 'The forest is full of greenery, spring is coming to the west stream; the field is vast and the birds are quiet, the wind is gentle and the flowers are urging'. Tiger Hill is mysterious and enchanting, with its ravines and cloud springs, making people linger and forget to return. Emperor Kangxi visited Tiger Hill four times during his six trips to the south of the Yangtze River. Su Dongpo said: 'Not visiting Tiger Hill when in Suzhou is indeed a regret!' From Tiger Hill to the Humble Administrator's Garden is about six kilometers. The 'leader' suggested we walk there too, to see the sights along the way. The Humble Administrator's Garden, along with the Lingering Garden, the Summer Palace in Beijing, and the Mountain Resort in Chengde, are known as the four famous gardens of China. In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, the censor Wang Xianchen, who returned home disillusioned with officialdom, named his garden after a phrase from Pan Yue's 'Ode to the Idyllic Life' during the Western Jin Dynasty: '...being filial and kind, friendly to brothers, this is also the governance of the clumsy'. The Humble Administrator's Garden is known for its water features, natural elegance, scattered courtyards, whitewashed walls and black tiles, small bridges over flowing water, and ancient deep forests. The Humble Administrator's Garden is about four kilometers from the hotel where we stayed, but the 'leader' insisted on walking back. I joked with her: 'You usually can't walk much in a day, but today you walked twenty kilometers without feeling tired. It seems that you can walk, it's all about the mood!' 'That's right! A free tour guide, go wherever you want, play as long as you want, and someone to serve you, how can the mood not be good? Accompany me more in the future!' The next day, we first took the subway to Suzhou Station, then transferred to a long-distance bus at the station square to go to Tongli. The ticket price was one hundred yuan, but if bought together with the bus ticket, the discounted price was eighty yuan. After getting off at Tongli, surrounded by modern buildings, the 'leader' kept asking where the ancient town was. I said it was in the northwest direction, just follow me. I thought to myself: I climb snow mountains, cross grasslands, and often wander in deep forests, so this kind of place is a piece of cake for me! What are you worried about! Hehe! Tongli has beautiful scenery, with every household facing the water and accessible by boat, Ming and Qing architecture densely arranged, and Song and Yuan bridges well preserved. Fifteen small rivers divide the ancient town into seven islands, which are connected by forty-nine bridges. The layout of small bridges, flowing water, and households has earned it the reputation of the 'Venice of the East'. The ancient town is quiet and beautiful, with few tourists. While strolling leisurely, suddenly there was a loud gong and drum, it turned out to be a dragon dance. The dancers were all women, which felt quite fresh, so we stopped to watch for a while. Later, we rented a boat, and the 'leader' had a great chat with the pretty girl rowing the boat. After disembarking, we found a specialty store by the river and ate the 'Three Whites of Taihu Lake'. On the way back, we bought a sugarcane, eating it while walking, and halfway through, the more than six-pound sugarcane was finished. On the third day, we went to Hanshan Temple and Maple Bridge. In the early Tang Dynasty, the famous monk Hanshan Zi came here and lived in a thatched hut; during the Kaiyuan era, the renowned Zen master Xi Qian founded a monastery here and named it Hanshan Temple. Next to the temple are Jiangcun Bridge and Maple Bridge. It became famous because of Zhang Ji's poem 'Mooring by Maple Bridge at Night'. To avoid the An Lushan Rebellion, the poet came to Suzhou. On a deep autumn night, mooring his boat at Maple Bridge, the quiet beauty of the autumn night in the water town inspired the traveler to write a poem with a clear and distant artistic conception: 'The moon sets and crows cry as frost fills the sky; river maples and fishermen's lights accompany my troubled sleep. Outside Gusu city, Hanshan Temple, the midnight bell reaches the passenger boat.' The 'leader' has always kept a respectful distance from temples and retreated before even entering the temple gate, so I didn't insist. We walked along the ancient canal to Jinghong Crossing, surrounded by water on three sides, with vast smoke and waves, and the sound of crashing waves.