Guangci Temple at South Pagoda, Shenyang

Guangci Temple at South Pagoda, Shenyang

Guangci Temple at South Pagoda is a cultural tourism attraction.

Guangci Temple at South Pagoda is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Nanta Street and Wencui Road in Dongling District, Shenyang. It was designated as a municipal cultural relic protection unit by Shenyang City on March 15, 1985, and on March 20, 2003, the People's Government of Liaoning Province announced the South Pagoda as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

It was built in the eighth year of the Chongde era during the Qing Dynasty (1643). According to the inscriptions, "A solemn and magnificent temple was constructed in each of the four directions around Shengjing. Each temple housed one grand Buddha, two flanking Buddhas, eight Bodhisattvas, four Heavenly Kings, and one stupa. The one in the south was built to bless the populace and was named Guangci Temple." According to Volume 97 of the "Shengjing Tongzhi" (Records of Shengjing), Guangci Temple originally had five-bay main halls, two stele pavilions, three-bay Heavenly King halls, two bell and drum towers, one pagoda to the south of the temple, and a three-bay mountain gate...

The construction style of the four stupas all follows the Tibetan-style lama pagoda design, consisting of three parts: the base, the body, and the finial. The base is a square, belted Sumeru pedestal with upper and lower frames. At the four corners and the middle of each side stand two stone pillars, creating three arched niches on each face. The stone pillars are carved with decorative patterns such as lotus flowers and Western lotuses. In the middle of each face are embedded arched niches containing statues and incense burners, and both above and below have intricately carved decorative panels. The upper part of the niche features a prominent cornice. The upper section consists of the stupa body, adorned with many small niches containing Buddha statues, with Buddha engravings in the niches. The top part has a precious bead finial. They are considered to symbolize the Four Heavenly Kings, and it is believed they represent the four directions: east, south, west, and north, likely forming a complete set with the other three stupas.

Address: No. 71, Nanta Street, Dongling District, Shenyang, Liaoning Province

Transportation: Take bus routes 135, 169, 213, 224, 239, 282, 286, 388, 389, 390, 394, or 395 within Shenyang City and get off at Huguo Temple stop to reach the site.