Kaiyuan Temple, a thousand-year-old temple: a symphony of twin towers and culture

#MarchGoodPlaces2025 Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou, Fujian, located on West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, is the most representative thousand-year-old temple in Quanzhou. The temple was first built in the second year of the Tang Dynasty (686 AD) by Huang Shougong in his garden. There are still ancient mulberry trees from the Tang Dynasty, witnessing the legend of the "Mulberry and Lotus Realm". The east and west twin towers in the temple are stone towers from the Song Dynasty. They are 48.27 meters high and are the tallest existing stone twin towers in the world. Their imitation wooden pavilion-style structure and exquisite reliefs demonstrate the pinnacle craftsmanship of Chinese stone architecture in the 13th century. Walking into the Main Hall, the grand space of the Hundred Pillar Hall and the brackets with flying musicians are breathtaking. The 24 stone carvings of Kalavinka, a melodious bird with human bodies and wings, combine Indian Buddhist art with Tang Dynasty court music and dance, and bear witness to the cultural integration of the Maritime Silk Road. The temple also houses a couplet inscribed by Zhu Xi: "This place was known as the Buddhist Kingdom in ancient times, and the streets are full of saints." The calligraphy rewritten by Master Hongyi adds a touch of Zen. During the visit, you can participate in the temple's explanation (about 50 yuan/hour) to gain a deeper understanding of Tantric culture and architectural details. Recommended nearby attractions include a tour of the Taoist stone carvings at Laojunyan in Qingyuan Mountain, or a 40-minute drive to Xiapu Village to experience the hairpin flower surround folk customs. In terms of transportation, it takes about 30 minutes by taxi from Quanzhou Station, or you can take the "Ancient City Tourism Line 2" one-day pass for 15 yuan. Kaiyuan Temple is not only a religious holy place, but also a living exhibition hall of multiculturalism. Walking through it, it feels like traveling through thousands of years of time and space, feeling the resonance of the weight of history and the essence of art.