“Chengtian Zen Temple: Quanzhou’s Thousand‑Year Garden of Zen Silence”

#chinatravel Chengtian Zen Temple (承天禅寺), also known as Yuetai Temple, is a serene and historic Buddhist site nestled in Licheng District, Quanzhou, Fujian. Originally built in 957–958 AD and renamed “Chengtian Temple” in 1007 AD during the Northern Song Dynasty, it’s recognized as one of the “Three Great Buddhist Temples” in Quanzhou alongside Kaiyuan Temple and Chongfu Temple . The temple features a peaceful ambiance enhanced by ancient banyan trees, long shaded corridors, and a release pond home to turtles and pigeons. Its layout includes the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of Maitreya, Mahāvīra Hall with a rare 10th‑century bronze Buddha statue, and a Song‑dynasty stone dhvaja (dharani pillar) carved with phoenixes and lotus motifs . Though much of the temple was rebuilt in 1985–1990 following damage in the Cultural Revolution, its architecture evokes the Ming‑Qing aesthetic and the tranquil character remains intact. Visitors often describe it as a peaceful escape from the bustle of Quanzhou city—a quiet sanctuary rich in Zen spirit and cultural heritage .