Mei'an Temple
梅庵
A temple founded in the early Northern Song to commemorate Sixth Patriarch Huineng. Its main hall retains Song-era timber framing and is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Lingnan.
Mei'an sits on a hill on the western outskirts of the old city. It was founded in 996, in the second year of the Zhidao era of the Northern Song. According to legend, Sixth Patriarch Huineng once planted plum trees here, which gave the temple its name. The main hall, the Mahavira Hall, retains Northern Song timber roof beams. It is one of the oldest surviving wooden structures in Lingnan and a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. The courtyard has ancient plum trees and stone stele inscriptions, and the setting is quiet. It is especially beautiful when the plums bloom in winter and spring. Admission is inexpensive or free, depending on the site, and a visit takes about 40 minutes.
Opening hours
About 08:30–17:00
Nearby sights
- Zhaoqing Song City Wall
- Liqiao Tower
- Bao Gong Cultural Park
- Zhaoqing Museum
- Zhaoqing Prefectural Confucian Academy
- Yuejiang Tower
- Chongxi Pagoda
- Seven Star Crags