Nanchan Temple in Wuxi, Jiangsu: A solemn Buddhist temple that has stood for 1500 years
Although Nanchan Temple is small, it is bustling with incense and closely connected to the historical district by the ancient Wuxi Canal. The Miao Guang Tower in the temple stands out among the pink walls and black tiles, becoming a landmark in this area. After worshipping in the temple, you can go shopping nearby, taste delicious food, and the night view here is definitely worth a look.
Nanchan Temple was first built in the early years of Taiqing of Emperor Wu of the Southern Liang Dynasty (AD 547), and after many ups and downs, the temple we see now was rebuilt in the 1980s and 1990s.
The south end of the temple is the main gate, and there are only a few buildings such as the Daxiong Hall on the north-south axis. The seven-story Miao Guang Tower on the east side overlooks the roofs of the antique buildings below, and the Nanchan Temple Wharf on the south side of the ancient canal, as if a scroll of the ancient canal is unfolding before your eyes. The Nanchan Temple Vegetarian Restaurant on the east side of the temple gate provides vegetarian meals, which can be ordered for takeaway.
The area around Nanchan Temple has formed a commercial area, with all kinds of snacks, antique markets, flower and bird markets, and book cities. You can go shopping for some small items. The snacks here are similar to most tourist attractions in Wuxi, such as stinky tofu, Wuxi ribs, grilled chicken wings, etc. Out of Nanchan Temple is Nanchan Temple Pedestrian Street, a few steps to the east next to the temple is a Mu Guiying food store, which some tourists call "a place to eat after visiting Nanchan Temple", mainly selling pastries and snacks, magnolia cakes, green groups, small cages, and zongzi are all good.
When night falls, the lights of Nanchan Temple and the old houses by the ancient canal are bright, and the strings of red lanterns hanging on the old houses are reflected in the canal, attracting many photography enthusiasts. It is recommended that you must take a walk along the canal, or take a boat tour of the Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area from Nanchan Temple Wharf. The water bus (i.e. tour boat), travels from Nanchan Temple Wharf to Shuixian Daoist Temple in the southeast, and then returns to Nanchan Temple Wharf.
Sitting on the boat, from Nanchan Temple Wharf to Kuatang Bridge, you can see the fashionable old buildings, namely Yangchun Lane Commercial District. From Kuatang Bridge to Qingming Bridge is the essence part, known as "Jiangnan Water Alley, Canal Unique Land", transformed from old houses into historical districts, you can find many beautiful people leaning on the water, small balconies. It is recommended to take a boat to Shuixian Daoist Temple, then walk back to Nanchan Temple Wharf, if interested, you can also turn to Yangchun Lane for a visit.
Came on April 30, 2023. Nanchan Temple is just outside the south gate of Wuxi City. It is one of the "480 Temples in the South Dynasty", and has a history of nearly 1,500 years. According to the Qing Dynasty "Rebuilding Wuxi Nanchan Temple Stele", Nanchan Temple ranks second in the "Liangxi Ten Great Temples", after Huishan Temple, and is a classic tourist attraction in Wuxi. Moreover, Nanchan Temple is connected to Nanchang Street and the Qingming Bridge Ancient Canal Scenic Area newly renovated in recent years. There is no doubt that this is a popular attraction for Wuxi tourism and it is not to be missed. Now every holiday, it is crowded. If you like lively, you can feel the pomp of "people crowded" in the past, but this experience is really not very good, it is recommended to avoid the peak. For self-driving foreign tourists, it is difficult to find a parking space around during peak hours. Everyone should take the subway.
Although Nanchan Temple is not big, it is full of incense. The historical district built along the ancient canal of Wuxi is connected to the temple. The Miaoguang Tower in the temple is very conspicuous in a white wall and black tile building, which is a landmark in this area. After the temple ceremony Buddha is completed, you can go shopping and eat food nearby, and the night view here is also worth seeing. Nanchan Temple was built in the early years of Liang Wu Emperor Taiqing in the southern dynasty (547 AD), and future generations have repeatedly been in the past. The temples you see are now rebuilt in the 1980s and 1990s. The gate of the temple is at the southern end, and there are only several buildings such as the Grand Palace on the central axis of the north and south direction. The Miaoguang Tower on the east side is 7 floors high. On the tower, you can see the roof of the antique buildings connected into one piece. You can look at the Nanchan Temple Pier on the south side of the ancient canal. There is a vague feeling of an ancient canal painting unfolding in front of you. The Nanchan Temple Vegetarian Restaurant on the east side of the temple gate has vegetarian food and you can order takeaway. The business district has been formed around Nanchan Temple, with snacks, antiques market, flower and bird market, bookstores and everything, you can go shopping and find some gadgets. Snacks are similar to most tourist attractions in Wuxi. Smelly tofu, Wuxi ribs, and roast chicken wings are available. Out of Nanchan Temple is Nanchan Temple Pedestrian Street. A few steps east, there is a Mu Guiying food next to the temple. Some tourists call it "must go to eat after visiting Nanchan Temple". The main cakes and snacks, magnolia cakes, youth groups, small cages, dumplings are good. Whenever night falls, the old house by the Nanchan Temple and the ancient canal lights up. A string of red lanterns hanging on the old house reflect in the canal. The beautiful night scene attracts a lot of long guns and short guns. It is recommended to take a walk along the canal, or take a cruise to Nanchan Temple Pier to visit the ancient canal scenic spot of Qingmingqiao. Canal water bus (that is, cruise ship), from Nanchan Temple Pier to the southeast to Narcissus Domain, and then turn back to Nanchan Temple Pier. Sitting on the cruise ship, from Nanchan Temple Pier to the cross-tang bridge, I saw a fashionable old building, Yangchun Lane business district. From the cross-tang bridge to the Qingming Bridge is the essence part, known as "Jiangnan Water Alley, Canal Out of the Print", from the old house into a historical block, you can find many water-front beauty rely, small terrace. It is recommended to take a cruise to the Narcissus Dome, and then walk back to the Nanchan Temple Pier. If you are interested, you can also turn to Yangchun Lane for a stroll.
从锡剧博物馆步行去南禅寺,步行1.5公里左右,路上顺便在地下商场食其家吃个午餐。景区很大,大雄宝殿和妙光塔古色古香,美食街游客如云,烟火气息浓郁。
The night view of Nanchan Temple is very beautiful. It is the most beautiful sunset pink glow, which reflects the background of Nanchan Temple. It is so beautiful! The night view lighting effect, the charm of the water town in the ancient town of Jiangnan came out immediately!
The antique Jiangnan water town is very comfortable for the first time for northerners, and the cruise ship is also very worthwhile!