Six Banyan Trees Temple
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Located in Guangzhou, the Six Banyan Trees Temple is an ancient Buddhist Temple which has an interesting Western connection. The temple is famous for its beautiful architecture and the Flowery Pagoda located within the temple complex. It is a large sprawling temple complex.
Originally built in 537, during the Liang Dynasty (502-557), the temple was named Changshou (Longevity) Temple. Its current name, Six Banyan Trees Temple was given by a famous Song Dynasty (960-1279) literati named Su Dongpao. The temple originally had six banyan trees located inside and he was impressed by their beauty and they cheered him up. The abbot of the temple suggested he name the temple and he gave it its current name. The temple complex has been rebuilt many times. The current architecture dates to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The Six Banyan Trees Temple is located close to the Guangzhou’s foreign consulates and because of
this, it has become a popular stop for Western families wanting to adopt a child from China. They light
incense and receive blessings for their newly adopted children in front of the temple’s statue of Guanyin.
The feature of the temple that draws the most attention is the Flowery Pagoda. It is where Buddhist
relics are housed. The roof’s red roofs curve upwards like flower petals, giving the pagoda its name.
It offers fantastic bird’s eye views of the temple and surrounding area.
