[2025 Quanzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhenguo Tower (Updated Apr)

They rise like guardians of the past—one facing the dawn, the other holding the dusk. At the heart of Quanzhou stands Kaiyuan Temple, flanked by its legendary East and West Pagodas. These stone towers aren’t just ancient architecture—they’re anchors of memory. Built with over 16,000 interlocking granite blocks using mortise-and-tenon joints, the pagodas have defied earthquakes and dynasties, standing tall since the Southern Song. Their story runs deeper than their height—48.24 meters for the East, 44.06 for the West. The West Pagoda hides a revelation: a monkey-faced monk from 1237, hand-carved into the stone. Many believe this figure, predating Journey to the West by centuries, could be the earliest visual origin of Sun Wukong. Alongside it, the East Pagoda bears a Tang monk relief—hinting at cultural exchanges that once flowed through the Maritime Silk Road. These aren’t just towers—they’re the spiritual backbone of Quanzhou. A city that rose with grit, trade, and imagination.

The Zhenguo Pagoda of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou was initially constructed as a wooden pagoda under the supervision of Monk Wencheng during the Xianheng period of the Tang Dynasty (670–673 AD). It served as a repository for Buddhist relics. Subsequent reconstructions following disasters led to its transformation into a stone structure. Built entirely of granite and mimicking wooden architecture, this multi-storied pagoda boasts a robust core, with crossbeams and corbel brackets connecting it to the outer walls. This design imbues it with exceptional resistance to earthquakes and typhoons. As a prime example of Song Dynasty stone architecture and the largest stone pagoda in China, it is designated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The pagoda's overall form is grand and magnificent, showcasing exquisite and ancient stone carving craftsmanship. The eighty guardian deities carved on its walls each possess distinct identities, attire, postures, weapons, and expressions, highlighting their unique personalities. The Sumeru pedestal's waist features thirty-nine embedded images depicting the continuous story of Sakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment. These images unfold narratives through themes such as the Jataka tales (stories of the Buddha's past lives), the Buddha's life story, King Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism, the eastward spread of Buddhism, and allegorical sutra stories. Each panel maintains a focused theme, portraying characters and events with vivid detail and captivating charm, drawing inspiration from the imagery of the Central Plains of China.

I. Preparation - Comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for long walks. - Camera or mobile phone to capture the beautiful moments. - Sunglasses, sun hat, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun. - A bottle of water to stay hydrated. II. Itinerary Morning: - 8:30 - 9:00: Arrive at Kaiyuan Temple. You can take a bus or taxi to get there. The address is 176 West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou. Kaiyuan Temple is conveniently located with multiple bus stops nearby. - 9:00 - 10:30: Visit the Mahavira Hall. This is the oldest and one of the most important buildings in Kaiyuan Temple. The hall was originally planned to have 100 pillars, but the number was reduced to 86 to widen the space. It is known as the "Hall of Hundred Pillars". The stone pillars in the hall are diverse and beautiful. The eaves of the back corridor have 16-sided greenstone pillars, which are carved with 24 stories of the ancient Hindu god Krishna and floral patterns. - 10:30 - 11:30: Admire the East and West Towers. The East Tower is the "Town-Guardian Tower", and the West Tower is the "Benevolent Life Tower". They are the tallest pair of stone towers in China. The exquisite reliefs on the towers incorporate elements of Buddhist culture, Hindu culture, and traditional Chinese culture, making them of great artistic value. You can take photos under the towers and feel the weight and solemnity of history. Noon: - 11:30 - 13:00: Have lunch at a restaurant near Kaiyuan Temple. We recommend trying Quanzhou's local specialties, such as meat zongzi, noodles, and spring rolls. Meat zongzi is fragrant and delicious with rich ingredients; noodles are smooth and refreshing with a delicious taste; spring rolls are thin pancakes wrapped with various vegetables, meats, and sauces, offering a rich taste. Afternoon: - 13:00 - 14:30: Visit the Sweet Dew Ordination Platform. This is one of the three existing ordination platforms in China, with a unique architectural style. The pillars and walls around the platform are carved with exquisite Buddha statues and patterns, showcasing the superb craftsmanship of ancient artisans. - 14:30 - 15:30: Visit the Sutra Library. It houses historical relics from the Tang Dynasty to the Republic of China, as well as the calligraphy of famous calligraphers such as Zhang Ruitu of the Ming Dynasty and the modern monk Hongyi. You can feel the strong cultural atmosphere here. - 15:30 - 16:30: Take a stroll through the courtyards and gardens of Kaiyuan Temple and relax. Admire the ancient trees and potted flowers in the temple and feel the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere. You can also feed the pigeons and enjoy a leisurely time. - 16:30 - 17:00: Purchase some souvenirs from Kaiyuan Temple, such as Buddhist beads, Buddha statue pendants, and books. Then end your day and leave with beautiful memories. III. Precautions 1. Kaiyuan Temple is a Buddhist holy place. Please respect religious beliefs and temple regulations. Do not make loud noises or touch Buddha statues and relics. 2. Please protect the environment and do not litter. 3. The temperature is high in summer, so please take sun protection and heatstroke prevention measures. 4. You can learn about Buddhist culture in advance to better appreciate the architecture and relics of Kaiyuan Temple.

The East and West Pagodas of Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou are an important scene in Black Myth: Wukong. The game presents the pagodas in great detail, highly restoring their appearance and details. ❤Recommended for: Kaiyuan Temple was built in the second year of the Chuigong era of the Tang Dynasty and has a history of more than 1300 years. The East and West Pagodas of Quanzhou, also known as the Zhenguo Pagoda and the Renshou Pagoda, are the tallest and largest pair of stone pagodas in China. With their scientific design, exquisite craftsmanship, exquisite stone carvings, and richly carved stories, they have always been regarded as unparalleled and dazzling treasures in the history of stone pagoda architecture in China. The Zhenguo Pagoda was built in the sixth year of the Xiantong era of the Tang Dynasty, and the Renshou Pagoda was built in the second year of the Zhenming era of the Five Dynasties. The East and West Pagodas have withstood wind and rain, and earthquakes, and still stand tall, showing the high achievements of Quanzhou's stone architecture and stone carving art in the Song Dynasty. 🌟Highlights: The "Monkey Walker" relief on the fourth floor of the West Pagoda has a pointed mouth and bulging cheeks, wears a golden hoop, and holds a big machete, which is quite similar to the image of Sun Wukong in "Journey to the West". Some people believe that this relief may be the earliest artistic image of Sun Wukong, and may even be its prototype. 🎫Admission: Free 🕙Opening hours: 8:00-17:30 📍Address: 176 West Street, Kaiyuan Temple, West Street, Quanzhou City 🚉Transportation: Kaiyuan Temple is very convenient to reach. Many buses in Quanzhou City can reach it.

Kaiyuan Temple is a landmark building in Quanzhou and a witness to the thousand-year history of Quanzhou Ancient City. Kaiyuan Temple was built in the second year of the Tang Dynasty and covers an area of 78,000 square meters. It stands at the busiest West Street in Quanzhou Ancient City. History Kaiyuan Temple was built during the Tang Dynasty, and the temple was named Lotus Temple at that time. The establishment of Quanzhou City was less than a hundred years, and the construction of Kaiyuan Temple was synchronized with the development process of Quanzhou City for thousands of years. Layout The layout of Kaiyuan Temple is regular, and the buildings are mainly arranged along the central axis. The side halls on the east and west sides are buildings with different functions. The central layout is the mountain gate, the main hall, the Ganlu Jietan, and the Sutra Pavilion. On the east side, there are buildings such as the Tan Yue Temple, the Quanzhou Buddhist Museum, and the Zhunti Zen Temple. The west side is the Gongde Hall and the Shuilu Temple. The most important thing is a pagoda on each side of the east and west. This is a landmark building in Quanzhou. These two pagodas have been preserved since the Song Dynasty and have a long history. Zhen Guo Pagoda The east tower is the Zhen Guo Pagoda, which was originally built in the Tang Dynasty as a five-story wooden tower. The existing pagoda is a seven-story brick tower built during the Song Dynasty. The west is the Renshou Pagoda, which was built during the Five Dynasties. The existing architectural relics also come from the Song Dynasty. The twin towers are both octagonal frame structures, with bucket arches and flying eaves, and the base is four flat and eight stable. The stone structure of the tower is solemn and majestic. The ending part of the 86 version of "Journey to the West" where Tang Monk's cassock was stolen was filmed in front of the main hall of Kaiyuan Temple. Ticket: Free Address: No. 176, West Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City Opening hours: 6:30-18:00