Travel notes of Guanghua Temple in Nanshan.

On a sunny day, I stepped into the sacred land of Nanshan Guanghua Temple with reverence and anticipation. Nanshan Guanghua Temple, an ancient temple carrying a long history and profound cultural heritage, is like a shining pearl inlaid in the long river of time. From afar, Nanshan Guanghua Temple is located between green mountains and clear waters. The surrounding mountains are rolling, like a group of loyal guards guarding this peaceful temple. The temple's architectural style is simple and elegant, with red walls, yellow tiles, flying eaves and brackets, which sparkle under the sunlight. The solemn gate seems like a door of time, leading people through thousands of years of history to explore the ancient wisdom and mystery. As you approach the temple, the first thing that catches your eye is a tall archway with the words "Nanshan Guanghua Temple" engraved in large, vigorous characters. The pillars of the archway are carved with exquisite patterns, including auspicious creatures such as dragons, phoenixes, and unicorns, which are lifelike, making people marvel at the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. Passing through the archway, a wide stone road appears before your eyes, with lush trees on both sides of the road. The breeze blows, and the leaves rustle, as if telling the story of the temple. Walking along the stone road, we soon arrived at the temple's gate. In front of the mountain gate, there is a pair of majestic stone lions. They hold their heads high and chests puffed out, with their eyes wide open, guarding the peace of the temple. A plaque hangs above the mountain gate with four large characters "Nanshan Guanghua Temple" inscribed on it. The characters are vigorous and powerful, and the momentum is magnificent. As you walk into the mountain gate, a solemn atmosphere hits you. The incense smoke curls up in the temple and the bell sounds melodiously, which makes people's hearts feel peaceful instantly. The main buildings of the temple include the Main Hall, Sutra Library, Guanyin Hall, etc. The Main Hall is the core building of the temple, where three huge statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha and Medicine Buddha are enshrined. The Buddha statue is solemn and majestic, magnificent and golden, making people feel the boundless power of Buddhism. On both sides of the Main Hall are statues of the Eighteen Arhats. They are in various shapes and lifelike, some with glaring eyes, some with sweet smiles, and some in deep thought, which makes people marvel at the superb skills of ancient artists. The Sutra Repository is one of the important buildings in the temple, housing a large collection of Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics. The Sutra Repository has a unique architectural style, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams and painted buildings, and is full of artistic atmosphere. As you enter the Sutra Repository, a rich scent of books hits you. The bookshelf is filled with various Buddhist classics, including the Tripitaka, the Diamond Sutra, the Heart Sutra, etc. These scriptures are the crystallization of Buddhist wisdom. They carry the wisdom and hope of mankind and make people feel the profoundness of Buddhism. The Guanyin Hall is one of the most popular buildings in the temple, and the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva is enshrined in the hall. Guanyin Bodhisattva has a kind face, holding a pure bottle and willow branches, giving people infinite warmth and comfort. The architectural style of the Guanyin Hall is simple and elegant, and the decoration inside the hall is also very exquisite. The walls are painted with murals of various Buddhist stories with bright colors and vivid images, making people feel as if they are in the world of Buddhism. In addition to the main building, there are many ancillary buildings in the temple, such as bell tower, drum tower, meditation room, etc. The bell tower and drum tower are located on both sides of the temple, and they are one of the landmark buildings of the temple. A huge bronze bell is hung in the bell tower. The melodious sound of the bell echoes among the valleys, making people feel the tranquility and solemnity of the temple. There is a huge drum placed in the Drum Tower, and the sound of the drum is powerful and inspiring. The Zen room is where monks practice. The environment here is quiet, peaceful and harmonious, making people feel a transcendental state. Walking in the temple, you can see ancient stone tablets and stone carvings everywhere. Some of these stone tablets and stone carvings record the history and changes of the temples, while others are engraved with Buddhist classics and famous sayings. They are the precious wealth of the temples and witnesses of history. Among them, there is a stone tablet engraved with the five large characters "Nanshan Guanghua Temple" in a simple and elegant font. It is said that it was written by Yan Zhenqing, a famous calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. This stone tablet bears witness to the long history and brilliant achievements of Nanshan Guanghua Temple, and makes people pay awe to this ancient temple. In addition to admiring the temple's architecture and cultural relics, I also participated in some Buddhist activities within the temple. In front of the Main Hall, I attended a solemn ceremony with other tourists. At the Dharma Assembly, monks chanted scriptures, recited Buddha's name, and struck Buddhist instruments, making people feel the sacredness and solemnity of Buddhism. In the Guanyin Temple, I made a sincere wish to Guanyin Bodhisattva, hoping that she could bless me and my family with peace, health, happiness and joy. These Buddhist activities gave me a deeper understanding of Buddhism and also cleansed my soul. Before I knew it, a day had passed. As the sun sets, the afterglow shines on the roof of Nanshan Guanghua Temple, adding a mysterious color to this ancient temple. I left Nanshan Guanghua Temple with full harvest and emotion. This visit to Nanshan Guanghua Temple made me feel the profoundness and infinite charm of Buddhist culture. This ancient temple is not only a religious holy place, but also a treasure house of art and a history museum. It carries the wisdom and hope of mankind and witnesses the vicissitudes and changes of the years. I believe that Nanshan Guanghua Temple will continue to inherit and carry forward Buddhist culture and make greater contributions to human civilization and progress. On the way home, I couldn't calm down for a long time. The beautiful scenery and Buddhist culture of Nanshan Guanghua Temple are deeply imprinted in my mind, leaving me with endless aftertastes. I think I will come here again if I have the chance in the future to experience the charm and majesty of this ancient temple again. At the same time, I also hope that more people can come to Nanshan Guanghua Temple to learn about Buddhist culture and feel the tranquility and beauty of the soul. Let us find inner peace and pursue the true meaning of life together on this sacred land. Nanshan Guanghua Temple