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Six Banyan Trees Temple

Six Banyan Trees Temple, situated on Liurong Road, is a renowned Buddhist cultural site.

Six Banyan Trees Temple was built by the Zen master Tanyu in the Liang dynasty during the Southern dynasties (386-581) and originally called Baozhuangyan Temple. It was renamed the Six Banyan Trees Temple by the famous poet Su Dongpo who was attracted by the six banyan trees surrounding it in 1,100. This is a very active working temple. The temple was burned down and rebuilt in the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127).

Six Banyan Trees Temple enshrines three large Buddhist statues: Sakyamuni, Amitabha and Maitreya. The statues are made of brass in 1633 during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty, each is 6m high and weighing 10 tons, being the largest existing ancient brass images in Guangdong province.

Flowery Pagoda, built in 1097, is the major structure in this temple. Still providing an excellent lookout, the 184-foot pagoda appears to have nine stories, each with doorways and encircling balconies. Inside, however, there are 17 levels. Named for its colorful exterior, the pagoda has a bronze column with 1,000 Buddhist sculptures on its top.