 Kaiyuan Temple is the oldest and largest Buddhist building in Fujian Province. The temple was founded in 7th century during Tang Dynasty and reached its peak during Song Dynasty when 1000 monks lived there.
The temple is highly regarded for its architecture: Its main hall"Precious Hall of the Great Hero" (Daxiong Baodian) or Mahavira Hall is also known as
The Great Hall of Purple Clouds". It is 20 odd meters high and is famous for its (almost) one hundred stone columns, each carved in a different style. On the crossbeams are carved 24 flying singers and dancers or "apsaras" resembling angels in Catholic churches.
There is an octonal five-storey stone pagodas on either side of the temple. The eastern one is called "Nation Protecting Pagoda" (Zhengguo ta), and the western, "Merits and Longevity pagoda" (Renshou ta). The twin pagodas were built in the 13th century and they are famous for their vivid sculptural details, exquisitely carved decorations, and inside, one of them has forty ancient Buddhist stories inscribed on its walls. Climbing up along the wood stairs to the top of either pagoda offers you the best bird's-eye-viewing point of Quanzhou city.
Related tour:
- Quanzhou One Day Tour (Ex Xiamen)
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