Explore Dali Guanyin Temple, a hidden gem for niche travel

Guanyin Temple is located in Guanyintang Village, Wuliqiao Township, Dali City, 9 km from Xiaguan and about 5 km from Dali Ancient City. It is named after the worship of Guanyin Bodhisattva. It was originally a post station in the Ming Dynasty. Later, it was said that Guanyin Bodhisattva turned into an old woman and carried stones to scare away enemy soldiers. People built a temple here to worship Guanyin, which was called "Dashian". In the 12th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1873), Cen Yuying, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, rebuilt the temple, forming the current scale. The entire building of Guanyin Temple is rigorous and orderly, with majestic halls, lush trees in the courtyard, flowers and plants competing for beauty, smoke curling in the pavilion, and the sound of wooden fish. The buildings in the temple are divided into the front pavilion, the middle hall, and the back hall, among which the most famous is the front pavilion. It is built on a huge stone called "Guanyin Stone", all made of marble, surrounded by marble railings, carved with dragons and phoenixes, and is very magnificent. [Transportation] • Public transportation: Take the "Three Pagodas Line" or "Line 4" bus from Dali Ancient City and get off at Guanyintang Station. • Self-driving: Depart from Dali Ancient City, drive 6 km, about 15 minutes. • Taxi: Tell the driver to go to Guanyintang, and you can go directly to the entrance of the scenic spot. • Ticket: Free. • Opening hours: 8:00-17:00. [Travel tips] • Front Pavilion: This is the landmark building of Guanyin Temple, built on a huge Guanyin stone, all made of marble, very spectacular. • Mahavira Hall: The hall enshrines statues of the Three Buddhas, Manjusri, Samantabhadra, etc. You can also worship the God of Wealth and pray for wealth and blessings. • Surrounding attractions: After leaving Guanyin Temple, you can visit Zhang's Garden on the north side. It is a garden within a garden that combines Bai-style residential buildings and garden features. [Notes] • After the rain in summer and autumn, the temperature drops quickly, so it is best to bring some autumn clothes. • To protect cultural relics and the environment, visitors are not allowed to smoke or take photos in the temple. Dali Guanyin Temple is not only a religious sanctuary but also a tourist destination full of historical and cultural heritage, worth a visit.