China: Quanzhou – Chengtian Temple

Chengtian Temple is another famous temple in Quanzhou and is celebrated as one of the “Three Great Buddhist Temples of Quanzhou” alongside Kaiyuan Temple and Chongfu Temple. It was originally founded in 957 AD and offers a stark and peaceful contrast to the bustling crowds of West Street and the Kaiyuan Temple. The temple is famous for its unique layout, designed deliberately to filter out the noise of the surrounding city as you walk deeper into its grounds. There is a long walled entry followed by a courtyard with deck small pagodas that mirror the layout of the Big Dipper constellation. The temple courtyards are shaded by massive, centuries-old banyan trees. The Main Hall houses impressive Buddhist statues, including a prominent, serenely carved Maitreya Buddha, and features traditional Minnan swallowtail roof ridges.