[2025 Runan Attraction] Travel Guide for Nanhai Temple (Updated May)

Zhumadian 2-Day Itinerary: Natural Beauty, Cultural Heritage, and Culinary Delights Located in south-central Henan Province, Zhumadian, known as the "heart of Yuzhou and the center of the world," boasts natural wonders and rich cultural heritage. Here's a concise two-day itinerary to help you efficiently explore this treasure trove of a city. Day 1: Natural Wonders and Historical Exploration Start your morning at Chaya Mountain (a 5A scenic spot), famous for its granite formations and featured in the classic novel *Journey to the West*. Hike to the summit for breathtaking mountain views and explore the "Wu Gong Cave" to experience the creative inspiration behind the novel. Afterward, head to Boshan Lake, cruise the "Li River of Central Plains," admire the picturesque scenery, and discover another filming location of *Journey to the West*. In the afternoon, visit the Nanhai Zen Temple, whose Grand Hall surpasses the scale of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City. Marvel at the majestic complex of 12 granite archways and Buddhist architecture, immersing yourself in the tranquility of Zen. In the evening, visit the Royal Post Station to experience the charm of the ancient post road and enjoy the evening light show and folk performances. Day 2: Cultural Roots and Culinary Experiences In the morning, explore the hometown of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (Runan County), stroll through the Hongluo Mountain Academy and Cao Bridge, and relive the poignant legend of their love story. Then, visit the General Yang Jingyu Memorial Hall to learn about the life of the anti-Japanese hero and reflect on the spirit of the Red Army. For lunch, indulge in the three culinary specialties of Zhumadian: the spicy and warming Hu La Soup, the tender and nourishing Zhumadian Stewed Chicken, and the chewy and flavorful Runan Dried Tofu. In the afternoon, ascend Lao Le Mountain for panoramic views of the sea of clouds, participate in the spring temple fair, or challenge yourself on the glass skywalk at Jinding Mountain, overlooking the stunning canyon scenery. Practical Tips Transportation: It takes approximately 40 minutes by car from the city center to Chaya Mountain. Self-driving or hiring a car is recommended. Recommended Side Trips: If time permits, consider visiting Tongshan Mountain (a Taoist holy site) or Suya Lake (Asia's largest plain reservoir). Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn offer pleasant weather, with April (Peony Festival) and October (autumn foliage season) being particularly recommended. Zhumadian offers a travel experience that combines wilderness adventure and cultural depth with its stunning mountains and waters, millennia-old cultural heritage, and authentic local flavors!

Nanhai Zen Temple 📍: Nanhai Avenue, Runan County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province ⏱️: 10:00–05:00 🧾: Adult ticket/CNY 40; Seniors over 65 years old, children under 1.2 meters/free Nanhai Zen Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Asia, has a history of thousands of years. After the temple was rebuilt, it became a grand complex, including the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and other main buildings. The Mahavira Hall is larger than the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, and is a masterpiece of religious and artistic fusion.

New Year Travel Choice! Nanhai Zen Temple and Chaya Mountain, a 4-day journey of tranquility, experience a different New Year and Zen scenery, don't miss it! -------------------- 🛣️Itinerary: Day 1: Royal Post Station Visit the historic Royal Post Station on the first day and experience the style and cultural heritage of ancient post stations. Day 2: Nanhai Zen Temple - Cao Wei Ancient City Experience Zen at Nanhai Zen Temple on the second day, then travel to Cao Wei Ancient City to appreciate the ancient city style of the Three Kingdoms period. Day 3: Pangdonglai Cinema - Nanjie Village Watch a movie at Pangdonglai Cinema on the third day and experience the local film and television culture, then head to Nanjie Village to experience the rural style. Day 4: Taihao Mausoleum Scenic Area in Huaiyang On the last day, head to Taihao Mausoleum Scenic Area in Huaiyang to explore the ancient mausoleum complex and feel the weight of history. End the wonderful 4-day journey and gain a full cultural and historical experience! 🎉 -------------------- Travel Preparation: 👕 Clothing: The temperature in January is moderate, it is recommended to wear a light jacket or down jacket, with comfortable sneakers for easy walking. 🎒 Accessories: Prepare a light and breathable backpack, with a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to cope with the sun. 📄 Documents: Don't forget your ID card and tickets, Nanhai Zen Temple may also require cash to buy tickets, prepare in advance. 🍞 Food: Bring some dry food and water, although there are restaurants in the scenic area, it is more convenient to bring your own. -------------------- 🎉A trip to Nanhai Zen Temple and Chaya Mountain, with Zen and mountain scenery in full view, is worth the trip!🌄

🎀Nanhai Zen Temple: Buddhist holy place, shining pearl🎀 🌍Attraction address: Nanhai Zen Temple is located in the southeast corner of Runan County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, China. 🛣️Transportation to attractions: It is super convenient to drive by yourself. Navigate to "Runan Nanhai Zen Temple" and the parking lots around the scenic area are at your service at any time. It’s also a good idea to choose public transportation. Departing from Zhumadian city, first take the shuttle bus to Runan County. When you arrive in Runan County, take a local bus or taxi to Nanhai Zen Temple. For specific bus routes, please refer to local traffic information, such as "Runan 3rd Road", etc. 🌟Must visit attractions: Main Hall: It is the core building of Nanhai Zen Temple. It is a square with a side length of 80 meters. The scale is amazing😲. In the hall, there is a solemn and solemn bronze gilded seated statue that is 17 meters high and weighs 72 tons. Twelve archways: Located inside the mountain gate, 12 granite archways were built from north to south according to the 12 causes, 12 zodiac animals, and 12 Bodhisattvas. They are unique in style, majestic and majestic, and people can't help but stop and admire them. Guanyin Hall: It houses the 14-meter-tall gilded seated statue of Guanyin with Thousand Arms and Thousand Eyes carved from camphor wood. The workmanship is exquisite. White Saint Relic Garden: Here, you can learn about the deeds of Buddhist monks and the architectural art of relic stupas, and deeply feel the profound heritage of Buddhist culture. 🎫Ticket related: Ticket prices vary with the season. The adult ticket price is 129 yuan/person in peak season and drops to 108 yuan/person in off-season. Seniors over 70 years old can enjoy free tickets, and senior citizens aged 60-69 and students with student ID cards can enjoy certain fare discounts. The specific fare is subject to the announcement of the scenic spot on the day. 💡Tips: Opening hours: Nanhai Zen Temple is open all year round. The specific time may change due to seasonal adjustments, but is generally 07:00-17:30 (winter time) or 06:00-17:00 (summer time). The latest entry time is 16:00. Please remember to know in advance and plan your trip carefully🕙. Tour route: It is recommended to enter from the mountain gate and visit the Twelve Archways, Tianwang Hall, Main Hall, Guanyin Hall, White Saint Relic Garden and other scenic spots in sequence. If you have enough time, you can also explore areas such as Kaishan Hall and Release Pond. Respect Buddhist beliefs: Be sure to keep quiet after entering the temple and do not make loud noises. Dress appropriately and avoid revealing or inappropriate clothing. At the same time, please protect the environment and cultural relics of the temple and do not touch or damage them at will. Food recommendation: After sightseeing, come and taste the local specialties of Runan County, such as Runan chicken meatballs, bean foam, Runan shabu-shabu beef tripe, etc., and let your taste buds enjoy it😋. Accommodation suggestions: There are many hotels and B&Bs to choose from in Runan County, such as Runan Tianzhong Impression Hotel, Runan Oriental Holiday Hotel, etc. The prices are moderate and the environment is great. Nanhai Zen Temple is not only a Buddhist holy place, but also a tourist attraction integrating architectural art and cultural connotation. I hope you can feel the solemnity and tranquility here during your visit and have a fulfilling and meaningful journey💖!

Location: Runan County, Zhumadian City Time: 8:00-17:00 (Entry stops at 16:00) Parking: 10 yuan/day Nanhai Zen Temple One of the 'Eight Scenic Spots of Caizhou' from the Ming Dynasty, it is the largest Buddhist temple in Asia with exquisite carving art and a magnificent presence. Locals call it 'Little Nanhai' because it was renovated in imitation of the Putuo Temple in the South Sea, but on a smaller scale, hence the nickname. Mahavira Hall (three-layered eaves) The main building, Mahavira Hall, is larger than the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City, known as 'Asia's No. 1 Hall.' In front of it is the Heavenly Kings Hall, with sculptures of the Four Heavenly Kings and eight peculiar colored clay figures inside, followed by the Guanyin Hall, with the Wenshu Hall and Puxian Hall on the left and right. Bell Tower and Drum Tower (two-layered eaves) Located in front of the Mahavira Hall on the left and right sides, the Bell Tower serves as the God of Wealth Hall. Those who wish to 'strike it rich' can go worship the God of Wealth and tie a red string. Entrance Steps First, enter through the 'Non-Duality' gate, then pass the 'Six Realms of Samsara Pillars,' and afterwards reach the 'Three-Faced Guanyin Statue.' The three faces represent: the light of Prajna, the purity of the lotus Dharma body. Embracing Buddha's feet, also known as paying homage to Buddha's feet, requires walking to the top of the Buddha hall, right under Guanyin's feet, and circling clockwise three times before embracing with both hands and pressing one's forehead to Guanyin's toes; when taking a photo with Guanyin, it is customary to have Guanyin beside you, not directly above you; avoid disrespectful gestures such as supporting Guanyin; praying to Guanyin for children is very efficacious, and many pilgrims return to fulfill their vows.

Title: 😍 Today, I want to share with you a temple that is unbelievably beautiful! Let's take a look together! 🤩 🌸 This temple is located in Runan, Zhumadian, China, and is called Nanhai Zen Temple. It boasts not only a long history but also enchanting scenery! Every corner exudes a tranquil and harmonious atmosphere, as if you are in a fairyland. 🕊️ 🏯 As soon as you step into the Zen temple, you will be immediately captivated by its architecture. The glazed tiles are painted with lifelike images, and the golden halls are filled with a sense of mystery. The colorful flying eaves and corners, the smooth lines, and the exquisite carvings, every detail showcases the ancient wisdom and artistic talent of humanity. 🏰✨ 🍃 For thousands of years, this place has accumulated a profound cultural heritage. You can feel the intersection of the ancient and the modern in the unique incense culture, with pilgrims praying and chanting every day. Immersed in such an atmosphere, your soul will find great comfort and peace. 🙏💕

In Zhumadian, located in southern Henan, lies a Buddhist temple that is not very famous nationwide or even within the province, but it is the largest in Asia, known as 'Asia's Largest Buddhist Temple'. Its Mahavira Hall is said to be even larger than the Forbidden City's Hall of Supreme Harmony. The temple's origins can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty, and although it has been rebuilt, it is still majestic and awe-inspiring. 💁 Travel Tips: Nanhai Zen Temple is located in Runan, Zhumadian, and it is a paid attraction with a large parking lot in front. What impressed me the most was the service of the staff and the fair pricing of the incense sellers outside, who do not overcharge and thoughtfully tell you how much to buy without waste. When inquiring about the price of the sightseeing car at the ticket office, the staff, upon understanding our situation, felt that we did not need to buy tickets and kindly suggested that we could do without the sightseeing car. After entering the scenic area through the mountain gate, you still need to walk about 500 meters to the core area. The road is flat, and if there are no elderly people, there really is no need for the sightseeing car. Entering through the Cooperation Gate is the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and crossing the stone bridge after passing through the Hall of Heavenly Kings is the Mahavira Hall, with the bell and drum towers on both sides. Behind the Mahavira Hall are the Circular Hall, the Samantabhadra Hall, and the Manjusri Hall. ❤️ Practical Information: ①Address: Nanhai Avenue, Runan County, Zhumadian City ②Ticket Price: 60 ③Opening Hours: 8:00—17:00

Nanhai Zen Temple is located in Runan County, Zhumadian City, and has a history of thousands of years. It was rebuilt in the 1980s and 1990s by Master Mingcheng with a huge amount of money. The Zen temple is surrounded by Ru River on three sides, the temple area is open, the architecture is numerous, the pagoda is magnificent, and the Lin Palace is dazzling. It is known as the largest Buddhist temple in Asia and is a national 4A scenic spot. Enter from the west gate, walk a long way, and the fragrance of osmanthus is refreshing. After the cooperation gate, pass the Heavenly King Hall, stand on the Three Hearts Bridge, calm and peaceful, look at the bell tower and drum tower on the right and left, and worship the Daxiong Hall in front, majestic and solemn. On the east side is the Manjusri Hall, on the west side is the Samantabhadra Hall, and behind is the Guanyin Hall, with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. The North Mountain Gate has twelve archways, which are unique.

Roaming Nanhai Zen Temple. Specially selected niche attractions, because of my ignorance, I had not heard of it before, but it was a little surprise to visit in person. The scale is larger than imagined, there are fewer tourists than expected, and the weather is more comfortable than it looks. The layout of the temple is grand, surrounded by rivers, with pleasant scenery. The architectural details are quite exquisite, the main hall, bucket arches, Buddha statues, murals, carvings, couplets... In my layman's eyes, the visible gorgeousness, neatness, and meticulousness are worth savoring, and I really like the reliefs. Today I have received a baptism of Buddhist culture. The Buddhist philosophy of 'turning back is the shore' is not unreasonable!