Nanhai Guanyin Temple in Foshan

Introduction 

The Nanhai Guanyin Temple (南海观音寺) in Foshan (佛山), Guangdong Province (广东省), was built in 990 AD (during the fifth year of the Chunhua era of Emperor Taizong of Song). It has a history of over a thousand years and is located in the picturesque Nanguo Taoyuan (南国桃园) in Shishan Town (狮山镇), Nanhai District (南海区). The temple is known for its breathtaking scenery and is considered a sacred site. The temple, designed in a palace-style architecture, features the Upper Royal Path (御道) and dragon sculptures. The central axis of the temple houses a white marble Nine-Dragon Morning Sun and lotus carvings, all located on the Upper Royal Path (御道), which was historically the path used by emperors. In front of the temple, there is a large fish release pond (放生池), covering over 30 acres, where lotus flowers are abundantly planted. During the summer, the fragrance of the lotus and the sight of the tower’s shadow on the water offer a tranquil atmosphere. The temple attracts tens of thousands of worshippers every year on the 26th day of the first lunar month (观音开库), becoming one of the largest Buddhist sites in Foshan.

Location:

Nanguo Taoyuan (南国桃园), Shishan Town (狮山镇), Nanhai District (南海区), Foshan (佛山), Guangdong Province (广东省), China (中国)

Climate: Subtropical monsoon climate (亚热带季风性湿润气候)

Opening Hours: Year-round, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (全年 8:00-17:00)

Ticket Price: 10 RMB (门票价格 10元)

Area: Over 30 acres (占地面积 30余亩)

History 

The Nanhai Guanyin Temple (南海观音寺) was originally established in 990 AD (during the fifth year of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty), situated on Niugugang (牛牯岗) in Nanguo Taoyuan (南国桃园). Over the years, the temple has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt due to wars and natural disasters. By the end of the Qing Dynasty (清朝) and after the Anti-Japanese War, only the ruins remained. In the 1990s, the temple was reconstructed as part of the religious policies of the country. In 1996, the temple officially opened, and by 1998, it was recognized by the Guangdong Provincial Religious Bureau (广东省宗教局) and the Nanhai Religious Affairs Office (南海市宗教事务所). The temple is now a significant religious and cultural landmark in the region.

Architectural Features 

Bell Tower and Drum Tower (钟楼与鼓楼)

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are essential features of Buddhist temples. In the Nanhai Guanyin Temple (南海观音寺), the bell and drum are rung every morning at 5:00 AM before the morning prayers. This sound is a solemn and sacred signal for the temple’s followers.

Niugushi (牛牯石)

Behind the Drum Tower, there are two large stones that were left intact during the temple’s construction. These stones, known as Niugushi (牛牯石), were shaped to resemble a cow. The inscription “Foyuan” (佛缘), meaning “connected with Buddhism,” was carved on them, symbolizing the connection between the temple and Buddhism.

Guanyin Spring (观音泉)

Located on the temple’s grounds, Guanyin Spring (观音泉) is associated with a local legend of Guanyin (观音) manifesting here to provide food and water for the poor. The story is etched onto a stone at the spring.

Fenbing Stone (分饼石)

Atop Niugugang (牛牯岗), the Fenbing Stone (分饼石) is linked to a legend where Guanyin (观音) manifested to distribute food and sweet water to the hungry, thereby earning the name “Fenbing” or “Distribute Bread.”

Caiyun Pavilion (彩云亭)

The Caiyun Pavilion (彩云亭) is associated with a tale where Guanyin (观音) summoned cotton clouds to cover the poor people with warmth during a cold winter. The cotton from the clouds helped them make warm clothes. A couplet written on the pavilion’s pillars reads:

“柳絮一挥皆圣水，彩云飞到尽棉花” (With a wave of willow fluff, holy water falls; when the colorful clouds fly, cotton flowers fall).

Best Time to Visit 

Foshan (佛山) enjoys a mild subtropical climate, with lush greenery year-round and an average annual temperature of 22.1°C. The best time to visit the Nanhai Guanyin Temple (南海观音寺) is from September to November (9月-11月).