Visiting the Three Ancient Temples of Hangzhou Beyond the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon

Apart from visiting the Three Pools Mirroring the Moon in Hangzhou, there are three other temples to explore: Lingyin Temple, Yongfu Temple, and Taoguang Temple. The incense at Lingyin Temple is particularly thriving, with a bustling crowd that could make one feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of visitors and the busy paths. After retirement, I took my family to visit the temples again. This time, the road traffic was surprisingly smooth. The temple's incense was as prosperous as ever, with a sea of people continuing to visit without the need for promotion. After visiting Lingyin Temple, I bought a local specialty sesame cake at the entrance, which was disappointingly not as good as its reputation suggested, especially compared to another sesame cake I had tried the day before by the West Lake in Hangzhou. Yongfu Temple, which I had not visited in my previous life, deeply moved me this time with its garden full of hydrangeas (also known as purple sunflowers). In the summer, there's no need to travel to Japan to experience the romantic flowers of the season; Hangzhou's temples contribute to the lively economic development, which is a happy thing from this perspective. However, the commercial model and atmosphere are a bit too strong, turning the ancient charm of Yongfu Temple into an internet-famous temple with the addition of hydrangeas. The flowers are beautiful, and so is the temple garden. Taoguang Temple After some effort, I reached a high and serene ancient temple, which is a fusion of three religions. I had hoped to enjoy a quiet cup of tea there, but found the best spot for viewing Hangzhou's scenery occupied by a teahouse with prices so high they somewhat dampened the spiritual experience. I took in the view from above and then descended the mountain. Later research revealed that the ancient Taoguang Temple was completely burned down forty years ago and was subsequently rebuilt.