[2025 Huzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Fahua Temple (Updated Mar)

Fahua Temple, also known as Baique Temple, is a historic Buddhist temple located in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. The history of Fahua Temple can be traced back to the Southern Liang Dynasty, originally built in the first year of the Datong era (535 AD), nearly 1,500 years ago. The temple's establishment is linked to Daoji, a Buddhist nun of the Southern Qi Dynasty, who recited the Lotus Sutra day and night on this mountain for twenty years. After her death, she was buried here. Legend has it that a blue lotus suddenly grew from the niche where her remains were kept, prompting Emperor Wu of Liang to decree the construction of the temple, naming it "Fahua Temple." Fahua Temple is also known as "Baique Temple" (White Sparrow Temple) because white sparrows often circled Daoji while she was chanting, as if listening to the Dharma. This legend adds a touch of mystique to the temple. Fahua Temple has undergone several reconstructions and renovations. The existing buildings include the Mahavira Hall, the True Body Hall, and the Guanyin Hall. The Mahavira Hall, with its double-eaved hip-and-gable roof, is magnificent. The True Body Hall enshrines the true body of Daoji, and in front of the hall, there is a cliffside inscription of "Qinglian Ancient Stream." At the mountaintop, there is also the Wanghu Pavilion, originally built in the Tang Dynasty, offering panoramic views of Taihu Lake. Fahua Temple is not only one of the four most famous temples in Huzhou but also a renowned Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. On Guanyin's renunciation day, enlightenment day, and ascension day, devout men and women from both sides of Taihu Lake come to offer incense and worship, making it a bustling place of worship. Fahua Temple suffered severe damage during the Anti-Japanese War, but it has been gradually restored in recent decades and has now become an important venue integrating religion, culture, and tourism.

Fahua Temple, also known as Baique Temple, dates back to the Northern and Southern Dynasties, over 1,500 years ago. [Transportation] High-speed rail 🚅: Arrive at Huzhou Station, take a taxi for about 20 💰 Self-driving 🚗: Navigate directly to Fahua Temple, parking lot available [Visiting Time] 🕰️Opening hours: 8:00–16:30 Tickets: Free, no reservation required Recommended to visit in the morning when there are fewer people. You can walk quietly in the temple. [Visiting Route] Fahua Temple Main Gate → "First Lake and Mountain in 800 Miles" → Hall of Heavenly Kings → Mahavira Hall → Miaofa Building → True Body Hall → Guanyin Tower Legend has it that the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva once chanted sutras here for more than 20 years and was buried here. It is believed that Baique is the place where Guanyin Bodhisattva became a monk, and Putuo is the place where Guanyin Bodhisattva attained enlightenment. Many people come to Fahua Temple to worship during the holidays. You can also draw lots at the top of the mountain and have them interpreted by a monk, which is said to be very effective.

Datong Fahua Temple was built at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. The original Fahua Temple has long been destroyed in the dust of history, leaving only one big white pagoda, which is also the only inverted-bowl style glazed Lama pagoda in Datong. The Fahua Pagoda was built during the Ming Dynasty, and it is said that a copy of the 'Lotus Sutra' is stored inside, hence the name. The entire temple complex is majestic, symmetrical from east to west, with statues that are vivid and dynamic, and the murals are rich and colorful, featuring numerous figures. 📍Address: Unit 4, No. 137, Dadong Street, Pingcheng District, Datong City, Shanxi Province 🈺Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00 (Entry until 17:30)

Weekend getaway from Yuyao for a day trip, Huzhou~ I heard that Huzhou is beautiful in March and April, so I wanted to experience it and bought an early high-speed train ticket. After getting off the train, I went to eat at Old Liang's dry pick, a big serving with a runny egg, paired with dry pick noodles, it was absolutely delicious. Adding fried pork rinds made it a bit greasy for me, my fault for being too greedy, wanting to try everything~ After the meal, I went to Fahua Temple, always like to visit the temples when I go to a city~ On the bus to Fahua Temple, I saw the cherry blossoms in Huzhou's green belt, the whole city was in bloom, a spring breeze blew by, and the petals fell, it was so beautiful~ Fahua Temple is not big, but because it's away from the bustling city, it feels especially serene, you can clearly hear the insects and birds on the mountain, just walking around and taking pictures. The Grand Hall was having a ceremony, listening to the monks chanting, I felt a lot more peaceful inside. In the afternoon, I went to the Fisherman's Wharf, because the weather was good, the Fisherman's Wharf was really too beautiful~ It's not an exaggeration to say it's the lake that most resembles the sea, the sky and water blending as one. You must take a speedboat at Fisherman's Wharf, 40 yuan per person, eight minutes of happiness, very worth it. At sunset, I went near Xinghai Mingcheng to take pictures of cherry blossoms with the Ferris wheel, and almost missed the return train while waiting for the Ferris wheel to light up. Huzhou is really a romantic city, the wind from Lake Tai, blowing down the cherry blossoms all over the city~