Hanshan Temple

寒山寺

A temple famous for thousands of years because of the line “at midnight the bell's sound reaches the passenger boat” from Zhang Ji's poem “Night Mooring at Maple Bridge.” With its Maple Bridge, Jiangcun Bridge and great bell tower, it is Suzhou's most poetic temple.

Hanshan Temple is in Maple Bridge Town in the Gusu District. It was first built in the Liang dynasty (502–519) of the Southern Dynasties. It takes its name from the monk Hanshan, who served as abbot here during the Tang dynasty. It became famous across the country because of the line from Zhang Ji's “Night Mooring at Maple Bridge”: “Outside the city of Gusu, Hanshan Temple; at midnight, the bell's sound reaches the passenger boat.” It is one of China's Ten Famous Temples. Most of the existing buildings were rebuilt in the late Qing dynasty. Highlights include the yellow-walled main gate and the three characters for “Hanshan Temple” on the screen wall. The Mahavira Hall and the Hanshi Hall (which enshrines Hanshan and Shide, the originals of the “Two Immortals of Harmony”) are here. The stone corridor houses the Night Mooring at Maple Bridge poem tablet inscribed by Yu Yue, the temple's treasure. The bell tower lets visitors ring the bell for good fortune (about 10 yuan for three rings). The Puming Pagoda, completed in 2008, offers views over the ancient Grand Canal and Maple Bridge from its top. Outside the temple, the Maple Bridge Scenic Area (separate admission) has Maple Bridge, Jiangcun Bridge, Tieling Gate and the ancient canal, where you can take a cruise. Each New Year's Eve, the “Listening to the Bell” event has been held more than 40 times. The 108 strokes of the bell mark the end of the old year and the start of the new one, and it draws crowds of domestic and foreign visitors, so tickets must be bought in advance. Admission is 20 yuan, and tickets can be booked through the official WeChat account or bought on site. Getting there: walk about 15 minutes from Maple Bridge Station on Metro Line 3, or take Bus 3 to Hanshan Temple Station. It is in the same northwest area of the Old Town as the Lingering Garden, Tiger Hill and Shantang Street, and is within 15 minutes by taxi. Allow 1 hour. In the afternoon, connect with the Lingering Garden, then watch the sunset over the ancient canal at Maple Bridge Scenic Area in the evening. Note: incense is busy inside the temple, so do not take photos in the halls. Crowds are extremely large around New Year's Day and New Year's Eve.

Hanshan Temple

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