Suzhou Guangfu Temple (Bronze Guanyin Temple)

Suzhou Guangfu Temple (Bronze Guanyin Temple)

Suzhou Guangfu Temple (Bronze Guanyin Temple) is a cultural tourism attraction.

Also known as Guangfu Lecture Temple and Bronze Guanyin Temple, Guangfu Temple is built along the lower street of Guangfu Town. Constructed in the second year of the Tianjian era during the Liang Dynasty (503 AD), it is one of the oldest temples in the Wu region. Originally a private residence, historical records from "Wumen Biography" state that Chen Huangmen Shi Lang Gu Yewang donated his home to establish the temple, thus giving rise to Guangfu Temple. It is among the early temple-garden complexes in the Wu area. The existing Mahavira Hall and Western Paradise Hall were successively rebuilt after 1993.

The layout of Guangfu Temple centers around the Relic Pagoda, with buildings distributed according to orientation and the actual terrain. The eastern part of Turtle Mountain features rugged rocks and pine trees, designated for sightseeing; the western side, facing the lake, serves as the monks’ living quarters; while the southwest, sheltered yet sunlit with optimal northern exposure, is devoted to worship. The Mahavira Hall and the Square Relic Pagoda are where Buddhist devotees conduct religious ceremonies and form the spiritual core of the temple. The main hall, situated at the front courtyard of the temple, has a bronze tripod in its center, and there is also a Ming Dynasty camphor tree within the courtyard.

To the west of the Mahavira Hall is the Western Paradise Hall, and to the east lies the Stele Corridor. The ancient bridge in front of the temple is called Guangfu Temple Bridge, also known as Da Si Qiao or Xiang Hua Qiao. Because it connects with the stone steps in front of the temple to form two concave-axis symmetrical shapes, it is commonly referred to as the “Upside-down Bridge.” The Guangfu Temple Bridge is a beam-style stone bridge, with railings and coping stones all carved from Wukang stone, which produce a resonant clinking sound when struck—hence locals also call it the “Lute Bridge.”

Ink Spring is located at the foot of Turtle Mountain in Guangfu. Shaped like a well, the spring appears pitch black when viewed from above, but once the water is drawn and poured into a bucket, it turns out to be perfectly clear. Legend has it that during the Chen and Liang dynasties, Huangjiang Shi Lang Gu Yewang retired to Guangfu in his later years and settled down at the foot of Turtle Mountain. There, he composed poetry, painted, and wrote books. The ink used to wash his brushes was poured near this spring over time, gradually seeping into the well and turning the water black—hence the name Ink Spring.

Address: Dengwei Mountain Road, Guangfu Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City

Type: Temple

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0512-66959608; 0512-66959008

Opening hours:

8:00–16:30

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

Known as the “Land of Lakes, Mountains, Caves, and Blessings,” Guangfu boasts superior ecological resources, stunning natural scenery, and rich cultural heritage. Emperor Qianlong visited here during all six of his southern tours. The town is home to more than twenty peaks of various sizes, including Dengwei Mountain, Xuemu Mountain, and Xiqi Mountain, as well as lakes such as Dongyan and Xiyuan. Attractions include the Fragrant Snow Sea, Situ Temple, … More details about Guangfu Town++