Suzhou Qielan Temple

Suzhou Qielan Temple

Suzhou Qielan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Qielan Temple is situated at the foot of Lumen Bridge on Moye Road in the eastern part of Suzhou. It was originally built as Guan Di Temple. The temple was first constructed in the sixth year of the Shunzhi era during the Qing Dynasty (1651), but was later destroyed during wartime. By the year of Renwu in the Guangxu reign (1882), the temple was rebuilt through fundraising led by Master Xiujue, a disciple of Master Shangdao, who also inscribed the "Gate of the One Non-Dual Path" plaque. In the same year, Lu Runxiang, the last top imperial scholar of the Qing Dynasty, inscribed the name "Guan Di Temple" on the temple plaque.

Historically, there were nine Guan Di Temples in Suzhou, most of which were Taoist temples. According to the *Gusu Annals*: “The Guanwang Temple worships Guan Yu, the Marquis of Han Shouting Ting. It is located on the east main street, east of the Martial Arts Champion’s Archway. In the Year of Jiazi under the Yuan Dynasty, Taoist priest Li Yuanshi built it.” Shi’s *Annals* state: “The Guan Di Temple is located north of Zhou Taibao Bridge on Wolong Street, and was built during the Chunxi era of the Song Dynasty.”

The Guan Di Temple was originally a subordinate temple of Zhenjue Nunnery (located within Niujia Lane), serving as a residence for nuns. It was situated south of Yonglin Bridge outside Lumen Gate, on Sujiachang, and had four acres of land. The original abbot was Master Huiyuan, and after her passing, Master Fu’an took over. On the second day of the first lunar month in 1986, Master Fu’an passed away, and the temple remained unmanaged for seven years, nearly falling into disrepair. In 1992, at the request of many devotees and with the approval of the Religious Affairs Bureau and the Buddhist Association, Master Guangxing, the supervising abbot of Wenshan Chan Temple, took over the management of the Guan Di Temple. Under his leadership and with strong support from devotees, the temple expanded from its original 100 square meters to four times that size. Due to the needs of the overall urban heritage conservation project around the ancient city, the Guan Di Temple was demolished in December 2003 and relocated for reconstruction. In June 2005, Qielan Temple was completed and the consecration ceremony for Sangharama Bodhisattva was held.

The current Qielan Temple complex includes the Maitreya Hall, Mahavira Hall, Sangharama Hall, Three Saints Hall, Scripture Depository, Dining Hall, and Monks’ Quarters, covering a total construction area of 1,100 square meters. The establishment of Qielan Temple adds a unique attraction to the ancient city scenic belt.

Transportation Guide

Address: Moye Road (near Lumen Bridge), Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province

Transportation: Within Suzhou, take bus routes 0, 301, 305, 313, etc., and get off at Lumen Station. Walk westward across Lumen Bridge to reach the temple. Alternatively, take bus route 70 and get off at Lumen Bridge Station.