(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 5, 2011.)
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| This Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛) and the two bodhisattvas at his sides are located in the uppermost hall at Lingyin Si (灵隐寺) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (浙江, 杭州市), the first "official" temple I visited. |
My first excursion, in August of that year, was to Zhejiang, since I had friends living in Beilun, a suburb of Ningbo. After spending a night with them, I hopped a highway bus for the 2-1/2 hour ride to Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang.
It was also the capital of China from 1127 to 1279, then called Lin'an. Venetian traveler Marco Polo, (allegedly) visiting a little later, called it "the most beautiful and magnificent [city] in the world." And a bit later still, the Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta (who traveled nearly five times farther than Polo) called it simply "the biggest city I have ever seen on the face of the earth."
Not as comparatively large today, but still remarkably beautiful, the city has all the conveniences you'd expect of a provincial capital. Off the highway bus and onto a local one, I skirted the famous West Lake (more about this next time) to my destination, Lingyin Temple (called "Temple of the Soul's Retreat") located southwest of the lake.
After purchasing a ticket for the "Lingyin Scenic Area" (40rmb) I enjoyed exploring some of the 345 carved figures in the grottoes across a small stream flowing past the temple's gate. This is the famous "Peak Flown From Afar," named by founding monk Huili, who thought it looked like a small mountain from his home in India had flown all the way to China!
I purchased my temple ticket (30rmb) and entered the first official temple of my pilgrimage. Inside I was treated to cool gardens, magnificent halls, and some of the finest statues I had yet seen in China. Of particular note was the 500 Arhats' Hall in the shape of a swastika, and the modern statue of Vairocana Buddha in the Huayan Hall.
Beyond Lingyin Temple are more hills and temples, including Yongfu Temple, and the traditional Fayun Village. I started up the mountain to see more, but unfortunately my time was limited, as I had one more temple to see on this daytrip to Hangzhou, a city definitely worth a few days' stay.
GPS Info:
- 30.24048, 120.10251
Map:
GALLERY
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| Entrance gate to the Lingyin Scenic Area |
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| Pagoda of monk Huili and grottoes at the "Peak Flown From Afar" (Feilai Feng) |
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| Laughing Buddha in the grottoes |
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| The main hall at Lingyin Temple |
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| Entry to the 500 Arhats' Hall shaped like a swastika |
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| Interior of the 500 Arhats' Hall |
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| Entry to Yongfu Temple above Lingyin Temple |
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| Maitreya (弥勒) is also known as the "Laughing Buddha." Here he is surrounded by arhats (罗汉) at Feilai Feng, "The Peak that Flew from Afar," near Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang (浙江, 杭州市). |
| Trip 1 Details | Next Article → |
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