Niubang Temple at Qionglong Mountain

Niubang Temple at Qionglong Mountain

Niubang Temple at Qionglong Mountain is a cultural heritage conservation unit of Suzhou.

According to historical records, Niubang Temple was first built during the Liang Dynasty and was then known as "Haiyun Chan Temple." It was rebuilt in the 12th year of the Shaoxing era (1142) of the Southern Song Dynasty. After the anti-Jin hero Yue Fei was framed and killed by Qin Hui, Han Shizhong, another renowned anti-Jin general, saw through the corruption of the imperial court and the dominance of treacherous officials, so he retired to the Canglang Pavilion in Suzhou. Six of his subordinate generals also came to Suzhou and took up residence in seclusion on Qionglong Mountain to practice Zen Buddhism.

Although they had left the court, they still hoped for peace and stability in the nation. Therefore, they renamed "Haiyun Chan Temple" to "Niubang Temple." Over the course of history, Niubang Temple has endured numerous hardships. In recent years, with the care and support of the government, the temple has been fully renovated and now presents a brand-new appearance to devotees from all directions.

From the mountain gate hall to the bell tower at the summit, there are a total of 578 steps with an elevation change of over 100 meters. This is unique in Suzhou and relatively rare in China. Inside Niubang Temple, there is a large Tang Dynasty-colored reclining Buddha, measuring 18.8 meters in length and 3.8 meters in height—the largest of its kind in the Jiangnan region. The Niubang Retreat at the mountaintop sits at an altitude of 288 meters. It offers the best view of Taihu Lake, and the retreat includes a teahouse where visitors can enjoy tea while taking in the scenery.

Address: Inside Qionglong Mountain Scenic Area, Cangshu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Transportation by bus: Take buses No. 43, 64, 582, 667, etc., in downtown Suzhou and get off at Qionglong Mountain Scenic Area.

Driving directions:

From Shanghai: Take the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway / Shanghai-Changzhou Expressway — exit at Baiyanghu Service Area — transfer to the Suzhou Ring Expressway — exit at Guangfu, turn left, and you’ll arrive at the scenic area in three minutes (approximately 120 km from Shanghai to Wuzhong District, Suzhou).

From Nanjing: Take the Shanghai-Nanjing Expressway — transfer to the Suzhou Ring Expressway West (S9) — exit at Guangfu, turn left, and you’ll arrive at the scenic area in three minutes (approximately 200 km from Nanjing to Wuzhong District, Suzhou).

From Zhejiang: Take the Su-Jia-Hang Expressway — exit at Baiyanghu Service Area — transfer to the Suzhou Ring Expressway — exit at Guangfu, turn left, and you’ll arrive at the scenic area in three minutes (approximately 170 km from Hangzhou to Wuzhong District, Suzhou).