Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple Travel Guide
East and West Towers · Mahavira Hall · Sanglian Ancient Site
The landmark of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou is the pair of Southern Song stone pagodas—the East and West Pagodas stand on either side of the main hall, over forty meters high, and are the tallest existing pair of stone multi-story towers in China. The pagoda bodies have a total of one hundred and sixty relief sculptures, each one different.
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Destination Details
Kaiyuan Temple is located on West Street in Quanzhou city. It was first built during the Tang dynasty and is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Fujian. During the Song and Yuan periods, Quanzhou was a world-class port, and the status of this temple was elevated accordingly; the Eastern and Western Pagodas were built in this context.
Key Highlights
Eastern and Western Pagodas
The Eastern Pagoda is called "Zhenguo," and the Western Pagoda is called "Renshou." Both are octagonal, five-story stone pagodas, over forty meters high. Their most astonishing feature is that all the components are made of granite carved to imitate wood—brackets, doors, windows, and flying eaves are all sculpted from stone. The pagoda bodies contain a total of 160 carved figures, none of which are repeated.
Main Hall (Mahavira Hall)
On the pillars inside the hall, there is a pair of stone pillars engraved with ancient Indian mythological stories, making them one of the few surviving Hindu stone carvings in China, and a testament to the multi-religious coexistence in Quanzhou during the Song and Yuan periods. The pedestal in front of the hall is also covered with carvings.
Recommended Route
- Classic: Mountain Gate → Mahavira Hall → Eastern Pagoda → Western Pagoda → Ancient Ship Exhibition Hall, about 1.5 hours.
- Combine with West Street, Guanyue Temple, Qingjing Temple, and Luoyang Bridge for a full day exploring Quanzhou Ancient City.
Practical Information
The temple is right next to West Street, within a ten-minute walk to Guanyue Temple and Qingjing Temple, and is the core section of Quanzhou known as "half city of smoke and fire, half city of immortals." In summer, there is little shade on West Street at noon, so it is recommended to visit in the morning or after sunset.
Routes that include this stop
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