Guanghua Temple

Guanghua Temple (South Mountain Guanghua Temple) is a major Buddhist monastery at the foot of Phoenix Mountain about two kilometres south of Putian city. The complex is large and architecturally varied, reflecting its long history of construction and reconstruction since the 6th century. The Tang-dynasty stone pagoda in the rear precinct is among the oldest surviving structures in Putian and shows the scale of the original monastery that once spread across the mountain slopes.

The monastery houses a significant community of monks and nuns and maintains a more genuinely religious atmosphere than many famous Chinese temples that have become primarily tourist attractions. Visiting outside festival days gives the best sense of the monastic community's daily life. The temple is a short taxi ride from the city centre.

things to do sight
A story
Guanghua Temple at the foot of Phoenix Mountain is one of the ten most important Buddhist monasteries in China by any traditional reckoning, and was historically the largest monastery in Fujian. It was founded in 558 CE and rebuilt extensively in the Tang, Song, and subsequent dynasties. The compound's scale is impressive: the main hall can accommodate over a thousand people, and the bell tower's instrument — cast in the Ming dynasty and weighing several tonnes — can be heard across the city on quiet mornings.