No. 114: Lushan Temple, Changsha, Hunan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on November 24, 2014.)

The ornate main gate (大门) at Lushan Temple (麓山寺) in Changsha, Hunan (湖南. 长沙市)

August 13, 2012 - Reaching my next temple was a different kind of challenge. It wasn’t remote, like Zhenru, or far away, like Jingju. I just couldn't find it!

EXTRA: Road to Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 2, 2015.)

This gateway (牌楼) leads to an ancient castle (古堡​) off the road to Wutai Shan, Shanxi (山西, 五台山).

August 24, 2012 - Wutai Mountain is one of China's "Four Buddhist Mountains," and the third that I have visited. From Datong, the road led south, causing me to retrace some of my steps from two days prior. I actually saw the Wooden Pagoda from the bus window! We then sped across a plain and started climbing, with views of even more remnant towers from (one of) the Great Wall(s).

No. 124: Shifang Hall, Wutai Shan, Shanxi

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 16, 2015.)

The front gate of Shifang Hall (十方堂) on Wutai Shan,
Shanxi (山西, 五台山) has Tibet-style decorations.

August 27, 2012 - Making up for the day before, when I had only visited one temple on my list, the next day I visited SIX!

No. 71: Xuefeng Chongsheng Temple, Fuzhou, Fujian

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on September 2, 2013.)

Gate to a small compound outside of Xuefeng Chongsheng Temple
(雪峰崇圣寺), in the mountains above Fuzhou, Fujian (福建, 福州市).

October 23, 2011 - Reaching Xuefeng Chongsheng Temple involved a local bus to a long-distance bus station, then a two-hour mini-bus ride, over half of it on a twisty mountain road. (Thank goodness for the girl at the front desk of my hotel, who helped me figure it all out.)

EXTRA: A Walk in Chengde, Hebei

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on July 1, 2013.)

The Mountain Gate (山门) at Shuxiang Temple (殊像寺), Chengde, Hebei (河北, 承德市). The temple is
closed to the public, but it's part of a pleasant stroll among the outer temples (外八庙) of Chengde.

August 29, 2011 - The day after visiting Puning Temple, I took an easy walk past some of Chengde's outer temples.

No. 56: Jile Temple, Haerbin, Heilongjiang

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 20, 2013.)

The Mountain Gate (山门) at Jile Temple (极乐寺) in Haerbin, Heilongjiang
(黑龙江, 哈尔滨市) faces a busy walking street near an amusement park.

August 25, 2011 - The northeastern Chinese city of Haerbin was developed from a small village in 1898, making it young by the standards of China's cities. It was an administrative center for a Russian railway running from Moscow to Vladivostok, with a southern branch originating at Haerbin and leading to Dalian. The city still has a decidedly Russian flavor.

It wasn't until 1922 that Master Tanxu--who is also commemorated at Dabei Temple in Tianjin--arrived to found what is considered the first Buddhist temple in Haerbin.

No. 55: Dabei Temple, Tianjin

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on April 23, 2013.)

Gate to the so-called "West Temple," (西院) a separate
compound inside Dabei Temple (大悲院) in Tianjin (天津)

July 13, 2011 - I wanted to see a temple in Tianjin, so the businessman who paid for my trip to Beijing gave me a car to take me there. The two-hour drive was relaxing, but because we zipped in and out, I didn't get to see much of that great city by Bohai Gulf on the Yellow Sea.

No. 50: Xihuang Temple, Beijing

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 18, 2013.)

The gate is all most people see at Xihuang Temple (西黄寺), Beijing (北京); the grounds are closed to the public.

July 10, 2011 - Ah, Xihuangsi! One of the best temples I've never seen!

Though I was able to visit Tongjiao Temple by waiting until the 15th day of the lunar month, I wasn't allowed into Xihuang (West Yellow) Temple at all.

No. 49: Tongjiao Temple, Beijing

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 11, 2013.)

The streetside gate at Tongjiao Temple (通教寺) in Beijing (北京) is as picturesque as anything inside.

July 10, 2011 - My next destination was a world apart from the greenery of Badachu Park. Tongjiao (maybe "Skillful Teaching") Temple is located just off of busy Dongzhimen North Alley, and is surrounded by urban development.

EXTRA: Sanshan Nunnery and Baozhu Cave, Beijing

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 25, 2013.)

This quaint wooden gate presages the simplicity of Sanshan An (三山庵=
Three Mountain Nunnery) in Badachu (八大处) Park, Beijing (北京).

July 9, 2011 - Leaving the Relic Pagoda, my student/patron and I walked toward the cable car station. On the way we passed tiny Sanshan Nunnery. Centered around one courtyard, it was built in 1151 and named for the three sets of hills where Badachu is located: Cuiwei, Pinpo, and Lushi Hills. It was quaint, but only took a moment for viewing.

We then pressed on to the station, where we bought tickets to the top of Pinpo Hill where Baozhu ("Precious Pearl") Cave is located. On the way up, we had spectacular views of the Relic Pagoda and the city beyond.

No. 36: Yushan Xingfu Temple, Changshu, Jiangsu

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on September 17, 2012.)

I enjoyed seeing these two old men seated in the Mountain Gate (山门)
at Yushan Xingfu Temple (虞山兴福寺) in Changshu, Jiangsu (江苏, 常熟市)

July 28, 2010 - After visiting Xiyuan, I took a bus to Changshu city (actually part of Suzhou) and Yushan Xingfu Temple.

No. 30: Jiaoshan Dinghui Temple, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on August 6, 2012.)

The gateway near the dock (码头) and a pagoda (塔) on the hill on the island
of Jiaoshan Dinghui Temple (焦山定慧寺), Zhenjiang, Jiangsu (江苏, 镇江市)

July 24, 2010 - Surprised at how early I had returned to Zhenjiang from remote Longchang Temple, I decided to head out for a quick visit to Dinghui (maybe "Establishing Wisdom") Temple. It's located on Jiaoshan ("Burnt Mountain"), a very small island in the Yangtze River on the edge of the city. I was at the gate a little after 2 pm, and my only regret is that I didn't allow myself more time for exploration.

No. 6: Tiantong Temple, Ningbo, Zhejiang

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on January 30, 2012.)

Gateway to a small compound in an upper corner of Tiantong
Temple (天童寺) outside of Ningbo in Zhejiang (浙江, 宁波市).

August 22, 2009 - The morning after my return from Putuoshan Island, my friends and I headed out by private car (for which they kindly paid). We traveled west from Beilun, toward central Ningbo, but then turned south into some of Zhejiang's wild mountains to find Tiantong Si, the "Temple of the Heavenly Child."

EXTRA: Nantian Men Area, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on January 16, 2012.)

The Nantian Men (南天门), the "Gate of the Southern Heaven" on Putuoshan
in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山), is a natural gateway made of two standing
stones with one across the top. These lead into a small temple area.

August 21, 2009 - When I had arrived on Putuoshan Island two days earlier, I had been rushing to my hotel, and hadn't had time to explore the area around the docks. So on my last afternoon, I went back to see what I had missed.

No. 3: Huiji Temple, Putuoshan, Zhejiang

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on December 26, 2011.)

The entry to Huiji Temple (慧济寺) on Putuoshan in Zhejiang (浙江, 普陀山).

August 20, 2009 - When I left the area of the Nanhai Guanyin, I walked up to the parking lot in front of Puji Temple, which is a hub for the island's shuttle buses. (One nice thing about Putuo Shan: there are no private vehicles or taxis, only work-related vehicles and shuttle buses.) I boarded one that would take me to the north end of the island and the cable car for Huiji Temple.

EXTRAS! EXTRAS!

When I created my post cards series, there was a handful of images from outside of my actual pilgrimages (most of them located in Shenzhen). As I run across them, I'll place them here in this EXTRAS page. Enjoy!

The Mountain Gate (山门) of Hongfa Temple (弘法寺), located in Fairy
Lake Botanical Garden (仙湖植物园) in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市)
(View Map) || (Read more about this temple here)

Kshitigarbha (地藏菩萨) is the Bodhisattva who promises to save all beings from
Hell. This is one of the few Buddhist statues at Dongshan Temple (东山寺), in
Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市), which is being converted from a Taoist temple.
(View Map) || (Read more about this temple here)

The stone over the altar (祭坛) at Guanyinshan Temple (观音山寺) in Shenzhen, Guangdong
(广东, 深圳市) juts out from a hillside like a giant Frisbee. It was probably this
natural feature, plus a nearby spring, that attracted temple-builders to the site.
(View Map) || (Read more about this temple here)

This wet nurse (奶妈 or 乳母) is one of twelve companions to Jinhua Furen (金花夫人), a Taoist
 (道教) goddess of childbirth sometimes found in Buddhist temples that have been converted
from Taoist ones, like Fenghuang Shan Temple (凤凰山寺) in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市).
(View Map) || (Read more about this temple here)

A new Buddha (佛) was being installed at Hongyuan Temple (弘源寺) in Shenzhen,
Guangdong (广东, 深圳市). It was funny to see these workmen all over him!
(View Map) || (Read more about this temple here)

The pool (池) is the centerpiece at Guanyin Temple (观音寺), Shenzhen,
Guangdong (广东, 深圳市). New halls (殿) are going up around it.
(View Map) || (Read more about this temple here)

Copy of a statue of the Sleeping Buddha (卧佛) based on one in the Mogao Caves (莫高窟)
at Dunhuang (敦煌); in a museum exhibition in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市)
(View map to museum) || (Learn more about the museum here)

This gate is a remnant from the days when Longxing Temple (龙兴寺)
in Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市), was a Taoist (道教) site.
(View Map) || (Read more about this temple here)

This altar is in from transition from Taoist (道教的) to Buddhist, with three Buddha (佛) statues
sitting front of a Taoist figure, at Fozu Temple (佛祖寺), Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市)
(View Map)

Dhrtarashtra (持国天王), one of the Four Heavenly Kings (天王), in the
newly-built Huayan Temple (华严寺) in Guangzhou, Guangdong (广东, 广州市)