Yangzhou Gaomin Temple

Yangzhou Gaomin Temple

Yangzhou Gaomin Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Gaomin Temple is situated at the confluence of the ancient Grand Canal and the Yiyang River in the southern suburbs of Yangzhou, at the Sansha River estuary. It is one of the eight renowned temples of Yangzhou during the Qing Dynasty and, together with Zhenjiang's Jinshan Temple, Changzhou's Tianning Temple, and Ningbo's Tiantong Temple, is known as one of the four great Buddhist Zen monasteries in China. It is not only famous throughout the country but also has influence reaching various countries in Southeast Asia. In 1983, the Religious Affairs Bureau of the State Council officially listed Gaomin Temple as one of the national key temples and monasteries.

Gaomin Temple was first built during the Sui Dynasty, and it has been repeatedly established and abandoned over time, with its name changed several times. In the early Qing Dynasty, it was rebuilt as an imperial palace. In the 43rd year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1703), during his fourth southern tour, the emperor ascended the Tianzhong Pagoda within the temple and felt as if it reached into the sky. He inscribed the plaque “Gaomin Temple.” In the 44th year of Kangxi’s reign (1705), during his fifth southern tour, Cao Yin and his uncle Li Xu each donated 20,000 taels of silver, and Li Can donated 10,000 taels to renovate the Taowan Imperial Palace, which was several times larger than the temple. During the fifth and sixth southern tours of Kangxi and the first southern tour of Qianlong, they all stayed here. Together with Zhenjiang's Jinshan Temple, Changzhou's Tianning Temple, and Ningbo's Tiantong Temple, it is called one of the four great Buddhist Zen monasteries in China. It is not only famous throughout the country but also has influence reaching various countries in Southeast Asia. In 1983, the Religious Affairs Bureau of the State Council officially listed Gaomin Temple as one of the national key temples.

The current mountain gate of the temple features a stone plaque inscribed with Emperor Kangxi’s handwriting: “Imperially Commissioned Gaomin Temple.” Existing structures include the Old Meditation Hall, Chanting Hall, Scripture Depository, Jade Buddha Hall, West Building, Water Pavilion, and monks' quarters. In 1990, a new meditation hall was built, standing 18 meters tall with an irregular octagonal near-circular structure and a construction area of 365 square meters. Venerable Master Weijing, abbot of the Kongmiao Guanyin Temple in Myanmar, donated one sitting jade Buddha and one reclining jade Buddha, adding brilliance to the ancient temple. The Mahavira Hall was completed in June 1996, measuring 40 meters in length, 33 meters in width, 30 meters in height, and covering an area of 1,320 square meters, exuding extraordinary grandeur.

Address: No. 5, Yangtze South Road, Guazhou Town, Hanjiang District, Yangzhou City

Type: Temple

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Phone: 0514-87511398

Opening hours:

9:00-17:00

Ticket information:

Free admission.