No. 97: Huacheng Temple, Jiuhuashan, Anhui

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on May 26, 2014.)

The village pond (池) stands in front of Huacheng Temple (化城寺),
said to be the first one built on Jiuhuashan, Anhui (安徽, 九华山).

June 23, 2012 - Across the road from the cable car station below Baisui Gong, there are several small plazas hemmed in by shops and temples. On the far side of one of these, across the large half-moon pond, lies Huacheng Temple, said to be the first Buddhist temple built on Jiuhua Shan.

No. 47: Yuantong Temple, Kunming, Yunnan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 4, 2013.)

Yuantong Temple (圆通寺) in Kunming, Yunnan (云南, 昆明市), is upside-down:
One walks down from the Mountain Gate (山门) to the Main Hall (大雄宝殿).
A pond fills the space that would usually be occupied by a courtyard.

June 6, 2011 - Unlike the previous two temples, Yuantong Temple is located smack-dab in the center of Kunming. It was so easy, we in fact walked back to our hotel after one visit [for dinner the day before this visit].

No. 46: Huating Temple, Kunming, Yunnan

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on January 28, 2013.)

The mountain behind and the pond (池) of water in front makes the perfect
feng shui (风水) at Huating Temple (华亭寺), Kunming, Yunnan (云南, 昆明市).

June 5, 2011 - Unlike Qiongzhu Temple, Huating Temple is quite easy to get to. Although it is also located in mountains outside of Kunming, it is in the popular Western Hills area, where you can also find the "Dragon Gate" (Long Men), a monument to inveterate Ming-Dynasty traveler Xu Xiake, and other attractions.

No. 35: Xiyuan Temple, Suzhou, Jiangsu

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on September 10, 2012.)

Pond (池) said to be the home of two 400-year-old turtles (龟) in the West Garden
(西园) of Xiyuan Jiechuang Temple (西园戒幢寺) in Suzhou, Jiangsu (江苏, 苏州市)

July 28, 2010 - The aptly-named Xiyuan (Western Compound, or perhaps "Garden") is located on the western side of Suzhou (get it?), and has a garden on its western side to boot. In addition to this simple nickname, it is also known as Jiechuang Si, confusingly translated as "Buddhist Vinaya Discipline Banner Temple" but perhaps better "The Temple of Monastic Discipline."