Xiangnan Temple

Xiangnan Temple

Xiangnan Temple is a cultural relic protection unit of Nanyue District.

Xiangnan Temple, surrounded by lush pines and firs and blessed with pleasant scenery, is also known as the "Pine and Fir Grove." Originally built during the Tang Dynasty, historical records from Nan Yue Zhi (Annals of Mount Nanyue) state that the eminent monk Tianran once served as its abbot, and the temple enjoyed great popularity. Later, the temple fell into disrepair but was restored in the 23rd year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1544). The current structure features stone walls and iron roofing, reconstructed in 1935 by the then-abbot Xingwu. The site offers a wide and open view. Standing on the stone terrace in front of the temple, visitors can gaze at the Xiang River stretching like a silk ribbon and look down upon the peaks resembling snails, a truly refreshing sight. When Yan Song, the Ming Dynasty prime minister, visited this temple on Mount Nanyue, he composed a poem titled “Xiangnan Temple” in its praise:

Halfway up the ridge, the distant bell rings through the deep path,

Stone halls veiled in vines guard the green pines.

The thatched cottage invites guests to share tea with monks—

Which peak in the clouds is this, I wonder?