Zhantanlin is one of the middle-altitude monasteries on Jiuhua Mountain, a cluster of halls and courtyards set among large camphor trees that create shade and coolness unusual on the sun-exposed upper slopes. The complex is known for its calligraphy collection — carved stone tablets bearing inscriptions by emperors, scholar-officials, and Buddhist masters accumulated over the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties line the courtyard walls.
The monks here maintain a reputation for strict adherence to monastic rules, and the daily routine of chanting, cooking, and study continues with less disruption from tourist traffic than at the mountain's more prominent temples. The complex is a rewarding stop between Huacheng and the upper shrines — it rewards the visitor who walks between attractions rather than taking the shuttle buses.