Ganlu Temple is one of the four principal monasteries of Jiuhua Mountain, positioned on the northern slope above the main pilgrimage route. The complex has a more contemplative character than the heavily visited temples lower on the mountain — fewer day-tripping tourists reach this altitude, and the monks who live here operate with somewhat less interruption than their colleagues at Zhiyuan or Huacheng.
The main hall is notable for its collection of bronze Buddhas, many donated by pilgrims over the centuries, and the side courtyards have ancient trees whose gnarled trunks suggest several hundred years of growth. The path between Ganlu and the Zhiyuan complex below passes through mature pine and bamboo forest and is one of the most pleasant stretches of trail on the mountain.