Fujian Xiamen: the Soth Putuo Temple

Situated at the foot of Wulao Peak in the south of Xiamen Island, South Putuo Temple (“Nan putuo” in Chinese)is the most famous temple in Fujian Province and it is also well known among all the Buddhist temples in China. The temple backs on to a group of exquisite peaks and is adjacent to Xianmen University, one of the top universities in China.

The temple was first built in Tang Dynasty and destroyed many times due to wars in the flowing years and was later rebuilt again in the 23rd year of Kangxi Reign in Qing Dynasty. As the temple is mainly for worshiping the Avalokitesvara ( a buddism godness named Guanyin or Guanshiyin) and the temple is located in the south of the Putuo hill of Zhoushan (a city in southern part of Zhejiang province), hence the name of South Putuo Temple.

With a total area of over 258,000 square kilometers, the temple has numerous worshippers and pilgrims all year around. There are many magnificent buildings and attractions in the South Putuo Temple, namely the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha, the Hall of Great Compassion, the Surta House, the Drum and Bell Towers, and the Thousand Hands Buddhist. In addition, a great number of inscriptions by celebrities have been well preserved round the temple, and a Chinese character 'Buddha'(佛) was inscribed on a cliff behind the temple.