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Temple of the Six Banyan
Trees, situated on Liurong Road, is a world famous ancient Buddhist temple.
It was built in 537 in the Liang dynasty during the Southern dynasties
(386-581).
More than 1460 years ago in the Liang dynasty,
Tanyu, the master priest, under orders of Emperor Liangwu, built Baozhuangyan
Temple to store the Buddhist bones brought from Kampuchea. During the
Northern Song dynasty, a great writer - Su Shi, on a visit to this temple
was attracted by the six banyan trees surrounding it and wrote the inscription
"Liu Rong" (Six Banyan Trees). This temple has since been known
as Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.
The temple was burned down and rebuilt in the Northern Song
dynasty (960-1127).
Flowery Pagoda, built in 1097, is the major
structure in this temple. Named for its colorful exterior, the pagoda
stands 57 meters high in the center of the temple, having a bronze column
with 1,000 Buddhist sculptures on its top. Viewed from outside, the pagoda
has nine stories while in fact it has 17 stories inside.
To the west of the pagoda is Grand Hall,
a magnificent hall rebuilt in 1983 with an area of 300 square meters and
a height of 14 meters. In this hall are enshrined three huge images: Sakyamuni
in the middle, Amitabha left and Maitreya right. Elaborately made of brass
in 1633 during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty, each is
6m high and weighing 10 tons, being the largest existing ancient brass
images in Guangdong province.In the Banyan Garden, there is the Hall of
Liuzu in which a copper image of Liuzu - the sixth generation of China's
Buddhist master is enshrined. This image, 1.8 meters in height and 1 ton
in weight, was meticulously cast in 989 in the Northern Song dynasty.
The image is very life like, sitting silently with its eyes closed in
meditation.
Admission Fee: RMB 22
Opening Hours: 08:30 to 16:50
Recommended Time for a Visit: One hour
Bus Route: 74,86,6
Electric Bus oute: 101
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