The lesser-known temples in Changsha fall into the green poetry

The name of Songbai Temple is very pleasant to the ear, and I was attracted by the name before going. After visiting, it truly lives up to its reputation, with ancient trees reaching the sky and pines and cypresses lush and green. The temple is located in the Xingsha Cultural Park, right at the entrance of a road, which can be described as hidden in the bustling city. It was originally built during the Northern Song Dynasty, and the existing buildings were reconstructed later. The layout of the temple is regular, not much different from other temples, with several main halls arranged in order from bottom to top after entering, and the bell tower and drum tower on the left and right sides. To the right of the entrance, there is a long corridor that leads directly to the scripture repository at the top. The most conspicuous in the courtyard are a few large trees. When I first went there at the end of March, they had just sprouted new leaves, all fresh green. The corridor next to the Mahavira Hall is very picturesque. Next to the ancient trees, there is a stone pagoda with a simple and attractive design, which is not commonly seen in other temples in Changsha. I have been there twice recently, both on rainy days. The first time I went, the entire temple was just me and my friend, very quiet. The second time was on a windy day, and there were hardly any people, the bells on the roof were blown by the wind and rang 'clang clang clang', filling the courtyard with the sound of bells.