The Seven Pagodas Zen Temple

The Seven Pagodas Zen Temple is a typical Zen Buddhist monastery with a seven-hall architectural system, facing south with the entrance to the north. The entire temple currently occupies an area of 19,632.04 square meters, with a constructed area of 16,969.07 square meters. Arranged in depth from south to north, its main buildings include the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Yuantong Treasure Hall, the Hall of Three Saints, the Dharma Hall, the Sutra Tower, and the Ancestral Hall along with the Abbot's quarters, all aligned on the central axis and each with seven bays. Most of these structures were built by the end of the Qing Dynasty under the guidance of the elder monk Ciyun. On both sides of the central axis, there are the Bell and Drum Towers, wing rooms and guest halls, as well as the Bao'en Lecture Hall and the Qixin Library. Outside the mountain gate stands the symbol of the Seven Pagodas Temple—seven blue stone Buddha pagodas, symbolizing the past seven Buddhas, lined up in front of the mountain gate.