World Cultural Heritage, the millennium-old famous temple—Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple

✔️ Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple, located in West Street of Licheng District, is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian Province. It was founded in the second year of the Tang Dynasty's Chuigong era (686 AD), and has a history of more than 1300 years. ✔️ Kaiyuan Temple is one of the few existing temples in China that maintains the Tantric regulations of the Tang Dynasty. The temple's setup, layout, Buddha statue arrangement, and various decorations all reflect the connotations of the Tantric culture of the Tang Dynasty. The architectural pattern is unique, the types of buildings are diverse, and the craftsmanship is exquisite, making it a collection of ancient Chinese architectural art. ✔️ The most eye-catching features within the temple are the two towers in the east and west, which have become the symbols of Quanzhou. The twin towers of Kaiyuan Temple are the tallest existing stone towers of the Song Dynasty in China and symbolize the prosperity of Quanzhou's overseas traffic during the medieval period. ✔️ The Mahavira Hall, located at position C on the central axis, also known as the Purple Cloud Hall, is said to have been named because when Kaiyuan Temple was founded, 'there was the auspicious sign of purple clouds covering the ground.' Therefore, not only is the main hall named Purple Cloud, but the plaque outside the mountain gate is also 'Purple Cloud.' The hall has a double-eaved Xieshan-style roof, and although it has been rebuilt many times, it still retains the simplicity of Tang and Song Dynasty architecture, making it the oldest and largest wooden structure in Southern Fujian. tips: 1. Admission Ticket🎫: Free admission 2. Opening hours: 6:30-18:00, the temple closes at 18:30