Located on the northern end of the Guangxiao Road, The Temple of Bright Filial Piety stands to be one of the most luxurious places of worship in all of China. With a deep rooted history that goes back 1700 years, the temple has made its mark and set its place, making it perhaps the most influential building in the city.
The shrine first took its place in the city as a private house during the Han Dynasty. Gradually it evolved into a lecture hall and finally became a temple that was solely dedicated to the practice of Zen Buddhism. The temple has always been associated with the spread of this kind of Buddhism and is most famously noted for Hui Neng’s entry to monkhood. The rich history and culture behind it is well displayed in its grand and elaborate architecture. Several cultural relics adorn the temple and provide a rich insight into the traditions of the locals of the time. The primary components of the hall include the Sixth Ancestor Hall, Mahavira Hall, Heavenly King Hall, The East and West Iron Towers, the Sutra Pillar and the Samgharama Hall. Each place has its own significance and architectural marvels to admire; the Mahavihara hall for instance is large and boasts a spectacular design that has been copied by several buildings afterwards and the towers in the temple are the oldest in all of China. There is the spiritual bodhi tree within the temple boundaries and also special places which have deep significance by containing the cut hair of the sacred Hui Neng. The structures in itself will take hours to admire as the intricate details can never be done justice to. Within the shrine complex are beautiful relics and other interesting buildings scattered around the compound.
The city has a myriad of cultural attractions that are sure to captivate history buffs and the ordinary tourist alike. After visiting the many surrounding attractions, wind down at the Springdale Serviced Residence Guangzhou, one of the best Guangzhou long stay accommodation, as it provides freedom and relaxation with a combination of that edge of luxury from a hotel that only Guangzhou serviced apartments can provide.
