Guiyuan Ancient Temple: A temple in Wuhan with thriving incense

🚖Leaving Hubu Alley, taking a ride across the Yangtze River via the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge to Hanyang's Guqin Terrace, I didn't expect it to be under renovation. Discovering that Guiyuan Temple is not far from here, the remaining time is just enough for a quick visit. Guiyuan Temple is a relatively famous Zen Buddhist temple in Wuhan. Although I visited it several years ago, my memory has faded, so I decided to revisit this familiar place. 🏃🏻‍♂️Walking from under the viaduct on Guishan South Road, through the Qintai Green Plaza, and arriving at Parrot Avenue, there is a shopping plaza here, and ahead at the crossroads, I saw Zhongjiacun subway station, which is the closest station to Guiyuan Temple. ↗️Turn left at the crossroads towards the west, enter Hanyang Avenue, pass a street, and then reach Guiyuan Temple Road. Continue south along Guiyuan Temple Road, and soon you will see the mountain gate of Guiyuan Temple. The incense at Guiyuan Temple is very prosperous, and the entrance is like a small rivers and lakes scene. ↗️Guiyuan Temple is a paid attraction, with an admission fee of 20 yuan. The history of Guiyuan Temple is not very long, as it was founded during the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty. Its name comes from the phrase 'Guiyuan has no second path, convenience has many doors' in the 'Luo Yan Jing', meaning 'all methods lead to one'. ↗️During the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, the emperor bestowed the plaque 'Guiyuan Zen Temple', elevating it from a folk temple to a royal temple, making its incense even more prosperous. The Zen Buddhism that was promoted after the Sixth Patriarch has been widely recognized for its principle of 'directly pointing to the heart, seeing nature and becoming a Buddha'. ↗️Hanging in the Weituo Hall, which was built during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty, is the plaque 'Guiyuan Ancient Temple', inscribed by Li Yuanhong, the president of the Republic of China at the time. The subsequent buildings such as the Mahavira Hall, Bodhisattva Pavilion, and Sutra Pavilion are mostly from the Qing Dynasty and have a distinct style of Qing imperial palace architecture. ↗️Behind the temple buildings, a new square has been built, which is very large. The most eye-catching features in the square are the Yuantong Pavilion and the two-sided Guanyin. Yuantong is one of the thirty-two Dharma names of Guanyin, and Guanyin is the most beloved Bodhisattva among the people, almost becoming an omnipotent deity. The devotion to Guanyin is also particularly heartfelt. 📍Address: No. 20, Guiyuan Temple Road, Hanyang District, Wuhan 💰Cost: Admission fee 20 yuan