[Immersive Experience: 5 Hidden Perspectives to Unlock Zen]
I dare say this is the most "rebellious" temple in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai! There is no donation box, no pursuit of incense, and not even a central axis, yet it hides the times of the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties in its courtyard🌿
🌟[Why You Must Visit: 3 Maverick Traits That Overturn Perceptions]
- Anti-Traditional Layout: More like a village than a temple! Buddhist niches and stupas grow randomly, door gods and festive couplets are mixed with Buddha statues, a "wild" representative of Chinese Buddhist temples.
- Anti-Commercial Operation: No donation box or incense altar, free to take photos of Buddha statues, and even a notice "discouraging" tourists from posting videos, extremely Buddhist.
- Anti-Fast Food Culture: Monks use old stone tools, bronze bells, and wooden components to decorate the temple. The inscriptions from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are more complete than in museums. Every shot is a historical depth of field.
📍[Transportation Guide] The Correct Way to Avoid Crowds
- High-Speed Rail: Take the train to "Pujiang Station" → take a taxi for 10 minutes to reach directly (about CNY 20). You can smell the fragrance of osmanthus when you get off the train.
- Self-Driving: Navigate to "Longtan Ancient Temple" → park in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain → walk 10 minutes on the stone road (the small parking lot in front of the temple has only 5 parking spaces).
- Accommodation Recommendation: Stay at "Xianhua Tangong Celebrity Resort Hotel" in Pujiang County. A taxi is CNY 10 direct, and you can also stroll along the Pujiang River night view at night.
🍂[Immersive Experience: 5 Hidden Perspectives to Unlock Zen]
1. Ancient Architecture Treasure Hunt
- Focus on the "Ming Dynasty Beam-Raising Wooden Structure" of the main hall: The lotus petal carvings on the Dougong are more delicate than those in the Forbidden City.
- Explore the "Stupa Forest": 7 stone towers from different dynasties tell the history of the temple's construction for thousands of years. Taking silhouettes under the sunset is amazing.
- Check in at the "Ancient Component Museum": More than 100 Ming and Qing dynasty doors, windows, and column bases collected by monks from the folk, each with a story.
2. Longtan Secret Realm Photography Method
- Best Spot: Next to the old camphor tree by the pool, use a telephoto lens to capture the "ancient temple reflection + swimming fish" in the same frame.
- Magic Moment: When the rain clears, the pool is surrounded by thin mist, which is very similar to the scene in "Chang'an San Wan Li".
- Hidden Gameplay: Bring a piece of bread to feed the koi and watch them gather to form a "red vortex".
3. Temple Life Experience Class
- Morning Class Experience: Follow the monks to morning class at 5:30am and listen to the Brahma sounds lingering around the beams (reservation with the guest hall is required one day in advance).
- Vegetarian Meal Making: Participate in making vegetarian dumplings every Saturday afternoon, using vegetables grown in the temple as fillings (free, you need to bring your own apron).
- Sutra Copying Time: The guest hall provides free rice paper and writing brushes. Copy the "Heart Sutra" under the osmanthus tree, and your heart will be quiet instantly.
4. Healing Moment for Furry Children
- Cat Stroking Map: There are 12 rescued cats in the "Meow Meow Courtyard" behind the Main Hall. The orange cat "Dafu" loves to rub people the most.
- Dog Escort Team: 3 Chinese pastoral dogs will lead the way to visit the temple. Following "Ah Huang" can find the most hidden ancient stele.
- Attention! Do not feed human food. There is special cat and dog food in the temple that can be collected.
5. Four Seasons Limited Romance
- Spring: In March, magnolia flowers bloom all over the walls, and white petals fall on the bluestone slabs like snow.
- Summer: In June, ancient locust trees cover the sky and the sun. Sit in the cloister and listen to the wind and watch the rain.
- Autumn: In October, golden osmanthus covers the courtyard, and you can pick petals to make sachets.
- Winter: After the snow, the world is like colored glaze. The red walls and white snow are matched with bronze bells, and every shot is an ancient style blockbuster.
⚠️[Wilderness Guide: These Rules Must Be Kept in Mind]
- Incense: No incense is offered in the temple. You can bring your own environmentally friendly incense (the empty tripod in front of the main hall can be inserted).
- Dress: Avoid shorts and skirts, and necklines that are too low (free scarves are available for borrowing at the door).
- Photography: Buddha statues can be photographed, but flashlights are prohibited. Do not disturb the monks when they are working.
- Vegetarian Meals: Meals are served on time at 11:30am. Take as much as you can eat, and use "grateful water" to wash the dishes (there are signs in the temple).
🌟[Travel Easter Eggs]
Don't forget to go to the "Knot Place" outside the mountain gate when you leave:
- Get a free succulent plant grown in the temple (limited to the first 50 people every day).
- Spend CNY 10 to ask for a string of "no donation box" bracelets (all income is used for stray animal rescue).
- Umbrellas can be borrowed on rainy days (CNY 20 deposit, which will be refunded when the umbrella is returned).
There is no commercial hustle and bustle here, only the sound of wind, bells, and chanting. When your fingertips touch the marks on the Ming Dynasty stone tablet, and when the cat jumps on your lap and dozes off, you suddenly understand what it means to be "sober in the world". If you also want to escape the involution, come here and listen to the ancient temple say: "No need to hurry, practice slowly."