Zijin Nunnery

Zijin Nunnery

Also known as Jin’an Temple, it is located west of Dongshan Town in the southwestern suburbs of Suzhou. It was first built during the Liang and Chen dynasties, later abandoned during the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenyuan era, and then rebuilt. It has a history of over 1,400 years.

The clay-painted arhats at Zijin Nunnery are hailed as one of the “Two-and-a-Half Halls of Arhats Under Heaven,” making them a cultural heritage treasure in China’s sculpture and fine arts history.

The sixteen clay-painted and colored arhat statues on the left and right walls of the main hall are said to be the work of the renowned Southern Song Dynasty sculptors, Mr. and Mrs. Lei Chao. Their lifelike postures and varied expressions are extremely rare in China and can be considered masterpieces of ancient sculptural art.

The three Buddha statues in the main hall feature an ancient design, which is uncommon among similar sculptures.

The Guanyin statue has a serene and solemn expression, reminiscent of the “Wu Belt in the Wind” style of Tang Dynasty sculptures.

The “Wisdom Eye,” “Canopy,” and “Sutra Cover” inside the hall are known as the “Three Treasures of Zijin” and are famous worldwide.

The Jingyin Hall behind the Arhat Hall is entirely built from nanmu wood and has now been converted into a Wu County cultural relics exhibition room.

The osmanthus and magnolia trees in front of the hall are said to have been planted over 800 years ago. The original trees have died, but new shoots grew from their dead trunks. These are now the second generation.

Tingsong Hall is a place within the nunnery for tea tasting and resting. Sitting by the window, you can enjoy the sound of the pine waves.

Dining / Accommodation / Shopping

Food and Shopping: Here you can taste the uniquely flavored Taihu boat cuisine, and also buy some Biluochun tea, Baisha loquats, and bayberries as gifts for family and friends.

Local Specialties: The vast Taihu Lake is famed for its three treasures: whitebait, white shrimp, and spiny bream, all highly praised by visitors. In addition, Baisha loquats, Wuzi bayberries, ginkgo, chestnuts, and Biluochun tea are all specialties of Dongshan.

Reminder: Authentic Biluochun produced in Dongshan is limited each year. It is estimated that about 90% of the Biluochun tea on the national market is counterfeit.

How to Identify Biluochun:

1. Appearance: The color is emerald green with white fuzz, the shape is tightly curled and small. When the package is opened, there is a distinctive fragrance.

2. Pour 60-degree Celsius warm water into a transparent cup, then add Biluochun. The tea leaves will slowly sink to the bottom of the cup, with none floating. The leaves at the bottom are scattered, not tightly clustered. Additionally, the tea water is crystal clear with no cloudiness.

3. When you taste the tea, there should be a natural sweet aftertaste on your tongue. If not, it is definitely fake, and there should absolutely be no astringent taste.

4. Never trust anti-counterfeiting labels.

Transportation

Take bus 502 from the train station directly to Dongshan (every 20 minutes, 100-minute ride, 4 RMB fare); or take a minibus from Wuzhong District Bus Station to Dongshan Town, which runs every 5–10 minutes for a 7 RMB fare. Buses heading to Dongshan all pass through Mudu, where travelers can transfer directly to a minibus to Dongshan.

Then transfer to a minibus bound for Zijin Nunnery. Alternatively, in Dongshan, you can take a disabled motorcycle for 8 RMB one way (20 RMB round trip). It is recommended to ask the driver to wait for the round trip, as there are no vehicles at the nunnery entrance.

Ticket / Opening Hours: 8:00–17:00

20 RMB. Seniors over 70 years old enjoy a 50% discount with valid ID, seniors over 60 get a 30% discount, and children under 1.2 meters are free. Guide fee is 10 RMB.

Address: Ximao’wu, Dongshan Town, Wuzhong District, Suzhou City

Type: Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Phone: 0512-66281126

8:30-16:30.

Dongshan Town: Located southwest of Suzhou, about 37 kilometers from the ancient city of Suzhou, Dongshan Town is a shining pearl on the shores of Taihu Lake. The town covers a total area of 96.55 square kilometers, administers 13 villages (communities), and has a current resident population of 54,000. Surrounded by water on three sides, Dongshan enjoys a pleasant climate and abundant natural resources. It is renowned as a "Fruit and Flower Mountain" and a "Land of Fish and Rice," earning the titles "Hometown of China's Biluochun Tea" and "Hometown of China's Taihu Lake Crabs." Biluochun tea, White Sand loquats, Dark Purple bayberries, Taihu Lake hairy crabs, a variety of premium vegetables, and valuable Taihu aquatic products are available year-round—"fruit in every season, flowers every month..." More information about Dongshan Town ++