Hanshan Temple

» Suzhou, Jiang Su

Hanshan Temple Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Sitting on the bank of the Grand Canal between Maple Bridge and River Village Bridge, the temple has tall and spacious halls, which are neatly laid out. Within the walls of the temple are venerable-looking pines under which are flower-boarded paths. When the temple bell is tolling, the deep strokes reverberate in the hall, mixing with the deep-toned chants of the monks.

When it used to be built

Traditionally, Hanshan Temple is believed to have been founded during the Tianjian era (502 - 519) of the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang, in the Southern and Northern Dynasties period.

How it got its name

The Hanshan Temple was originally built during the reign of Tianjian in the Liang Dynasty. The legend says in the Zhenguan Reign of the Tang Dynasty, the famous monks Hanshan and Shide came here from the Tiantai Mountain to conduct prayer services, hence the name of the Temple.

Used to be destroyed by fire

In its long history, the temple has more than once been destroyed by fire. The present one was built at the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911).

What we see

It includes the Grand Prayer Hall, Sutra-Collection Building, Bell Tower, Fengjiang Pavilion and Tablets Corridor, etc. In 1995, a five-storey Buddhism pagoda as high as 42 meters (about 138 feet) was erected called Puming Pagoda, which then became the symbolic building of the temple.

There are many more historical relics in the temple, such as the statue of Han Shan, the stone tablet inscription of the poem A Night Mooring near Maple Bridge and some other tablet inscriptions written by famous intellectuals of ancient China.

Temple Gate

In front of the temple gate stands a saffron yellow screen wall. On the gate is hung a horizontal board inscribed with Gu Han Shan Si or Ancient Cold Mountain Temple.

Two Statues

Inside the temple gate, once one walks past a screen with carved images of Buddha, there come into the view of two statues on a huge lotus-shaped base. Both with disheveled hair and bare chests and unshod feet, one had in hand a ritual bottle and the other a lotus flower. These are the images of Monk Han Shan and Monk Shi De.

Best Known Bell

Being one of the most famous temples in Chinese history, Hanshan Temple often boasts about its bell rings. However, the best known bell described in Zhang Ji's poem disappeared a long time ago. The bell in the tower now, was modeled on the previous one in 1904.

Every year on New Year's Eve in China's lunar calendar, the bell is tolled to pray for the happiness and safety of the coming New Year. This festival attracts thousands of tourists both at home and abroad.

Grand Prayer Hall

Cold Mountain Temple is also a Buddhism temple. The statue of the Buddhist patriarch Sakyamuni is there for people to make offerings to in the Grand Prayer Hall.

Hongfa Hall

There are bronze statues of three eminent monks: Xuan Zang (a Tang Dynasty monk and translator), Jian Zhen (a Tang Dynasty monk who once went to preach Buddhism in Japan) and Kong Hai.

A Buddhism Temple

Kong Hai was a Japanese monk who studied Buddhism in China in the ninth century. He once visited Hanshan Temple when he stayed in China and after he returned to Japan, he started to preach Buddhism in his country. Until now, Hanshan Temple is still one of the most important places to hold Buddhism activities.

Temples & Bridges & Barriers

There are ancient temples, bridges, barriers, towns and canals. The ancient temple is Hanshan Temple, the ancient barrier is the Tieling Barrier over the meeting of Grand Canal and Shangtang River, it was built in 1557 to resist the invaders. The ancient bridge is the Jiangcun Bridge and Feng Bridges are over the Grand Canal beside the Hanshan Temple.

Stone Tablet Inscription

It write an inscription, a poem of Mooring to the Maple Bridge at Night by Zhang Ji of the Tang Dynasty. It is so often-quoted and widely loved that the poetic rhyme and the bell-tolling sounds have made the Hanshan Temple famous at home and abroad.

Sentences as follow:

Moonfall. Crows cry in a sky full of frost.

Maple Bridge. Lamps of fishermen doze off in the gloom.

Outside old Suzhou lies Hanshan Temple.

At midnight, the sound of its bell reaches my boat.

What we find around

Around the Cold Mountain Temple, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Maple Bridge, where Zhang Ji's boat was once moored, and get a realistic feel of the ordinary life of the people living in the Fengqiao Old Town. You can also have a look at the famous Jinghang Canal, which is the longest ancient man-made canal in the world.

Attractions around » Suzhou, Jiang Su

Historical Site

• Hanshan Temple
• Tongli Town
• Panmen Gate

Cultural Site

• Tiger Hill
• Humble Administrator's Garden
• Liuyuan Garden
• Panmen Gate
• Shizilin Garden
• Master-of-Nets Garden
• Canglang Pavilion

Shopping & Leisure

• Guanqian Street

Hanshan Temple Highlights

Temple & Monastery in Great China

• Shaolin Temple
• Temple of Heaven
• Jokhang Temple
• Confucius Temple
• A-Ma Temple
• Palkhor Monastery
• Sera Temple
• Drepung Temple
• Rongbuk Temple
• Songzanlin Temple
• Id Kah Mosque
• Lingyin Temple
• Labrang Temple
• Great Buddha at Lingshan
• Golden Temple
• Yuantong Temple
• Tashilhunpo Temple
• Sakya Temple
• Temple of Universal Peace
• Putuo Zongcheng Temple
• Eight Outer Temples
• Famen Temple
• Great Mosque
• Nanputuo Temple
• Jade Buddha Temple
• Town God Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Lama Temple
• White Cloud Temple
• Tar Temple
• Santa Sophia Church
• 108 Dagobas
• Memorial Temple of Lord Bao
• White Horse Temple
• Qiongzhu Temple
• Hanging Temple
• Hanshan Temple
• Gaomiao Temple at Zhongwei
• Giant Buddha Temple
• Xiangguo Temple
• Yufeng Lamastery
• Chongshansi Temple
• Dule Temple
• Anyuan Temple
• White Horse Pagoda
• Trandruk Temple
• Dai Temple
• Pagoda of Songyue Temple
• Ramoche Temple
• Guanlin Temple
• Huayan Temple
• Kaiyuan Temple
• Samye Temple
• Jinci Temple
• Confucius Temple
• Ganden Temple
• Dabeiyuan Temple
• Wuhou Memorial Temple
• Shanhua Temple
• Ruins of St. Paul's
• Temple of Universal Happiness
• Great Bell Temple
• Qingjing Mosque
• Hongfu Temple
• Dazhao Temple
• Five Pagoda Temple
• Baoguo Temple
• Wudangzhao Temple
• Shalu Temple
• Bailin Temple, Great Zen Buddhist Center
• Longhua Temple
• Jile Temple
• Chengtiansi Pagoda
• Nanguan Muslim Mosque
• Qingyanggong Temple
• Ba Xian An Temple
• Tianhou Palace
• Guiyuan Temple
• Linggu Temple
• Najiahu Mosque at Yongning
• Haibao Pagoda
• Xilitu Zhao
• Dongguan Mosque
• Jiegu Temple

Hanshan Temple FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Weather

1. How about the weather in Suzhou?
2. When is the best time to visit there?

  Travel

1. How to rent a bicycle?
2. Write down names and numbers if you don't speak Chinese.

  Customs

1. Could you tell me something about local festival - Ya Shenxian?

  Other Hints

1. People do tips there?
2. Do people speak English there?

• How about the weather in Suzhou?

  Suzhou is located in a subtropical monsoon zone, so the weather is mild and moist with four distinct seasons.

  The Plum Rain Season of June is followed by a hot July. After July, a harvest autumn arrives. Both the fresh fruits and the seafood will surely whet your appetite.

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When is the best time to visit there?

• It's best to visit Suzhou between January and April because the temperature is not too low and the flowers are in full bloom until June.

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• How to rent a bicycle?

  You can find bicycles for rent at a lot of place, but you will need to leave deposit and show your identity card.

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• Write dowm names and numbers if you don't speak Chinese.

  Being a foreigner in China, is quite demanding as you would have to struggle with the language barrier. Our best tip for people travelling from one place to another is to know the chinese character of the place you intend to go to and make sure you jot down the plate number of the bus, and it may prove very helpful once you leave some stuff behind.

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• Could you tell me something about local festival - Ya Shenxian?

  Ya Shenxian (April 14th in Chinese lunar calendar)
  April 14th is said to be the birthday of Lv Dongbin, one of the Eight Immortals in Chinese Taoist mythology.

  On that day, he comes to Suzhou disguised as a human to spread happiness and prosperity. To receive more luck from the immortal, people from all over Suzhou crowd the streets in celebration.

  Today, this activity has turned into a bustling temple fair with various displays including handicrafts, plants, animals, and local snacks.

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• People do tips there?

  People here in Suzhou usually don't do tips. You don't have to pay porters for carrying things around for you. You don't have to pay waiter or waitress for bringing your dish.

  But some tips might make their life a bit easier. So tip or not tip, all depends on your personal preference.

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• Do people speak English there?

  The official language of China is Mandarin, though regional dialects pervade every corner of this massive country. Learning a few phrases in Mandarin is sufficient for travel in Suzhou.

  While younger Chinese and those involved with the tourist industry may understand varying degrees of English, it is still advised that visitors carry the name of their hotel and other important destinations written in Chinese characters.

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