Shilou Hermitage

Shilou Hermitage

Shilou Hermitage is a cultural relic protection unit of Suzhou City.

Shilou Hermitage is located on Panchi Mountain in Guanfu Town, Wuxian County (now part of Suzhou), Jiangsu Province, to the west of present-day Guanfu. It borders Taihu Lake, with the two temples being about one kilometer apart.

Shilou Hermitage’s origins are unclear. According to the county annals, during the early Qing Dynasty, the silent monk Wusheng resided here. The hermitage comprised over ten rooms, along with scenic spots such as Longquan and Liuyu Springs. In front of the hermitage, there is an inscription plaque reading “Ancient Temple of Shilou” penned by Lu Runxiang, the top imperial scholar of the Qing Dynasty, and the area is surrounded by thousands of verdant bamboo stalks. About one kilometer southwest of the hermitage, atop Shibi Mountain, lies Shibi JingShe (Stone Cliff Retreat). It was first established during the Ming Dynasty's Jiajing era by the monk Huan Shan and originally named Yonghui Temple. It was renovated during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty. At the mountaintop lies a rocky hollow several meters wide, with steep stone walls all around, and the temple is built within this natural enclosure. The Ming Dynasty poet Wang ? (character unclear) once inscribed the three characters “Shi Bi Rong” (phonetically “Ge,” meaning an earthen pot), which led to the name Shibi (Stone Cliff); later, in the Qing Dynasty, Miao Tong inscribed “Hudong JingShe” (East Lake Retreat), hence the name Shibi JingShe. Today, there are over ten halls and side structures, along with scenic spots such as Huan Shan Terrace, Fengyao Rock, Meicun Spring, and Zunsheng Spring.

Guanfu Town: Located in the western suburbs of Suzhou, on the shore of Taihu Lake, Guanfu Town is 21.5 kilometers from downtown Suzhou. The town covers a land area of 62 square kilometers, with approximately 160 square kilometers of Taihu water area and a shoreline of about 32 kilometers. It governs 10 villages (communities) and has a permanent population of 63,000.

Guanfu has long been known as a place of “lake and mountain scenery, and blessed land of natural beauty.” It boasts superior ecological resources, stunning natural landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage. Emperor Qianlong visited here during all six of his southern tours. The town features more than twenty peaks and hills of varying sizes, including Dengwei Mountain, Xuangu Tomb Mountain, and Xiqi Mountain, as well as lakes such as Dongyan and Xiyyan. It is home to attractions like Xiangxuehai, Situ Temple, … Guanfu Town detailed information ++