Shihu Stone Buddha Temple in Suzhou

Shihu Stone Buddha Temple in Suzhou

Shihu Stone Buddha Temple in Suzhou is a cultural tourism attraction.

The Stone Buddha Temple, also known as Chaoyin Temple, Haichao Temple, or Chaoyin Chan Monastery, is located at the foot of Chamo Mountain in Shihu. Carved directly from the rock formations along the mountain, a statue of Guanyin was sculpted in a crevice on the cliff face—commonly referred to as the "Stone Buddha," which gave the temple its name. When Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited this area during his southern tour, he inscribed a plaque reading “Pu Men Xiang Fan” and composed a couplet: “May your vows be fulfilled and the sweet nectar of Dharma spread far and wide; may wisdom resonate across the seas to this temple by the tides.” This couplet remains engraved on the stone pillars of the Guanyin Hall to this day.

The Stone Buddha Temple was originally built during the Chunyou era of the Song Dynasty (1241–1252), established by Monk Yaoshan as its founding abbot. Though modest in size, it was blessed with a beautiful setting. The Yuan Dynasty poet Chen Ji once visited and wrote the poem “Climbing Guanyin Rock”: “Mount Putuo lies by the vast sea, / Who moved this ancient cave here to stay? / Below the cliffs, green pools kiss the sun all day, / Cloud-rooted immortal herbs know not of cold or gray. / Parrots in bamboo call out words we can say, / Serpentine dragons by the stream seem to chant and pray. / The mountain stands firm where the Stone Bridge Path does lay, / Even here one must pause in devout array.” Over the centuries, the temple underwent several renovations. By the early Republican period, it still had a main hall, which was later destroyed in a fire. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple suffered severe damage—the pavilions, pathways, and stone beams were all smashed, and the Guanyin statue was broken into three pieces, falling into the mountain stream below.

In the 1980s, the government restored the Stone Buddha Temple, dredged the silt from the stream, retrieved the stone Guanyin statue from the water, cleaned and reassembled it, and returned it to its original appearance. The current Stone Buddha Temple is still built against the mountain. At either end are two-story small halls, with the lower level being the Guanyin Hall. The two stone pillars bear the couplet inscribed by Emperor Qianlong, exuding an ancient charm. Today, with the rustling of pine trees, the mountain showers, and the tranquil ambiance of the temple, the clear sounds of Buddhist chants wash away the noise of the mundane world—yet it is the inner peace within people’s hearts that remains the eternal Buddha.

Shangfangshan National Forest Park in Suzhou

Shihu Zhiping Temple Ruins in Suzhou

Suzhou Yuzhuang (Jue’an)

Shihu Scenic Area in Suzhou