Hualin Temple Main Hall
华林寺
A timber main hall built in 964, in the second year of the Qiande era of the Northern Song. It is one of the oldest surviving timber-frame structures south of the Yangtze River.
Hualin Temple lies at the southern foot of Pingshan. Its main hall was built in 964, in the second year of the Qiande era, under the rule of the Qian family of Wuyue. It has three bays across the front and a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, with large bracket sets and sturdy timbers, and it retains the architectural style of the late Tang and Five Dynasties. It is the oldest surviving timber-frame building south of the Yangtze River and had a direct influence on Japan's Daibutsu-style architecture. It is a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The temple is not large, and the main attraction is the beam frame and bracket sets of the main hall, which suit architecture enthusiasts. Admission is generally free or nominal. It is closed on Mondays. It is about a 5-minute walk from Zhenhai Tower on Pingshan, so it can easily be visited on the way.
Opening hours
About 08:30–17:00, closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Zhenhai Tower on Pingshan Hill
- Fuzhou West Lake Park
- Kaiyuan Temple (Fuzhou)
- Fujian Museum
- Daming Road Food Street
- Three Lanes and Seven Alleys
- Lin Zexu Memorial
- Wushan Hill & Black Pagoda