Xiyuan Temple

Xiyuan Temple

Xiyuan Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a cultural heritage site.

Xiyuan Temple, originally built during the Yuanyou era (1264–1294) of the 14th-century Yuan Dynasty, is the collective name for the Jichang Monastery and the West Garden Liberation Pond. It is located on Xiyuan Lane in Suzhou, situated on Xiatai Street outside Jinmen. The temple was first established in the Yuan Dynasty and was initially named Guiyuan Temple. In the 17th century during the Ming Dynasty, the eminent monk Maolin took residence here and renamed it Jichang Monastery, making it one of the renowned centers of the Vinaya school. Most of the existing structures were built in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period, making it the largest temple complex within Suzhou. The current Xiyuan Temple includes both temple buildings and gardens, covering an area of about 10 acres. The layout of the temple is strictly organized, featuring halls such as the Four Heavenly Kings Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, the Guanyin Hall, and the Scripture Depository.

Main Halls of the Temple

On the west side lies the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats, originally built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in the late Qing Dynasty. It is grand in scale, with three courtyards and forty-eight rooms. Centered around statues of the Four Sacred Mountains, clay sculptures of five hundred arhats line the walls, all life-sized or larger, each with unique expressions and postures. These vivid and imaginative works exhibit exceptional artistic and cultural value. At the center of the hall stands a 13-meter-tall statue of the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, carved from a single camphor wood trunk. Nearby, there is also a uniquely designed Buddha statue with four distinct faces, said to represent the Four Sacred Mountains and their respective deities: Manjushri of Mount Wutai, Ksitigarbha of Mount Jiuhua, Samantabhadra of Mount Emei, and Guanyin of Mount Putuo. The five hundred arhat statues are symmetrically arranged along the walls in single and double numerical order, each labeled with a number and dharma name, each displaying different expressions. Their facial features and gestures vividly convey emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow, and delight, seemingly emanating from within, making them extraordinarily lifelike and awe-inspiring. The hall also houses statues of the Laughing Buddha, the Mad Monk Ji Gong, the Monk Hanshan and Shide, as well as Guan Yu and Skanda, all rich in ethnic character and artistic expression, earning fame both in China and abroad. The Hall of Five Hundred Arhats at Xiyuan Temple is the only well-preserved set of Qing Dynasty clay arhat sculptures in Jiangsu Province with such high artistic quality, and is considered a masterpiece of sculptural art. Thus, visitors to Suzhou often make a point to see Xiyuan Temple to admire the exquisite craftsmanship of these sculptures.

Hall of Arhats

Among the notable statues, those of the Mad Monk Ji Gong and the Monk are particularly outstanding, celebrated for their lifelike expressions and delightful charm, truly masterpieces. The statue of the Mad Monk is considered exemplary. This figure is based on the story “The Mad Monk Scolds Qin Hui.” It is said he had ten physical oddities: crossed eyes, a bald head, a crooked mouth, a limp, etc., hence he is also called the “Ten-Incomplete Monk.” His expression brings to mind the scene where the mad monk teased and scolded corrupt officials. Ji Gong, originally named Daoji, was a famous monk from the Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou during the Southern Song Dynasty. He was skilled in poetry, lived freely and naturally, fearlessly opposed corruption, and delighted in helping the weak. This statue of Ji Gong is imbued with romanticism, remarkably lifelike, with a uniquely expressive face—seen from the right he appears “cheerful,” from the left “sorrowful,” and straight on, a mix of both. Moreover, his eyes ??? vividly convey inner emotions, no matter which angle you view him from.

Liberation Pond

To the west of the Hall of Arhats lies a serene and elegant small garden, with charming scenery, pavilions, winding corridors, rippling water, and willow trees providing shade. In the pond stands an octagonal pavilion, inscribed with the words “Moonlight on the Pool’s Heart,” known as the Lake Center Pavilion, connected to both sides by a winding bridge—an ingenious design. The fish and turtles in the pond were released by monks and Buddhist devotees, and the giant soft-shelled turtle in the pond is a rare sight. Visitors often toss cakes to the fish, who eagerly compete for food. By the pond’s edge and the bridge stands an open-sided hall, quite refined, shaded by two wisteria vines that twist like dragons, their foliage forming a dense canopy. On warm, sunny days, sitting under the wisteria to enjoy tea, chat, or feed the fish is reminiscent of March at West Lake’s Flower Harbor, a delightful experience. The Liberation Pond is a large tadpole-shaped pool, with its “head” in the south and “tail” in the north, bending southeastward, covering a fairly wide area. It houses numerous fish and turtles, most released by Buddhist followers. The colorful carp here rival those in Hangzhou’s Jade Spring. Another major attraction in Xiyuan, alongside the Hall of Arhats, is the giant soft-shelled turtle in the pond, said to be descended from turtles bred during the Ming Dynasty, now over 300 years old, rarely seen unless the weather is hot.

Other Information

Transportation: Accessible via Tourist Bus Lines 1, 2, 3, and city bus routes 6, 10, 11, 17.

Admission: 15 RMB

Food & Accommodation: The Gongdelin Vegetarian Restaurant at the Xiyuan intersection and the Little Xiaoyue Tower on the southeast corner across the street are both renowned and worth trying.

Address: No. 18, Xiyuan Lane, Liuyuan Road, Suzhou City

Type: Garden/Historical Architecture/Temple

Rating: AAAA

Recommended Visit Duration: About 2 hours

Phone: 0512-65349545; 0512-65511746; 0512-65512350; 0512-81662077

Official Website: http://www.jcedu.org/index.php

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket Information:

Door Price: 25.0 RMB