Only by letting go can one find peace: Kaiyuan Temple + West Street

As a Minnan native, I always feel an inexplicable sense of familiarity with Quanzhou. This time, after leaving Xiamen with my mother, we first arrived in Quanzhou. This city boasts a thousand years of cultural heritage and a vibrant, down-to-earth lifestyle. Strolling through its streets, one can feel the sparks of fusion and collision between Eastern and Western cultures. ① Bell Tower: The central landmark of Quanzhou. ② West Street: Lined with various local snacks, it's a place to savor traditional flavors through food. From the rooftop of the visitor center, you can capture the entire street in a single shot. ③ Kaiyuan Temple: A thousand-year-old religious temple exuding a powerful sense of faith. The two stone pagodas on the east and west sides feature intricate carvings. One particular character in the temple grounds left a deep impression on me. Normally, the Chinese character for 'heart' (心) has a dot above, but here, the dot is placed below the heart.