Yu'nan Tianchi Nunnery

　　   Tianchi Nunnery is situated in Liantan Town, Yun'an District, Yunfu City, Guangdong Province. It was established by the Qing Dynasty eminent monk Master Dingfeng and is a provincial-level key Buddhist temple. The nunnery gets its name from a spring that flows out of a rock crevice; a clear stone pool was carved beneath it and named “Tianchi” (Heavenly Pool), hence the name of the nunnery.

　　   The nunnery is located on Tiantang Mountain above Shangqiao in Liantan. It was first built in the 18th year of the Shunzhi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1661), renovated in the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign (1768), and expanded in the 7th year of the Guangxu reign (1881) through funds raised by local gentry, which enhanced its architectural style and led to its current scale. There are four unique features that make it attractive: first, the main hall has no front entrance on the front or right side but instead has a side gate on the right; second, there is no drainage system in the courtyard, yet no water accumulates no matter how heavy the rainfall; third, although the back is surrounded by dense woods, fallen leaves never land on the roof tiles; and fourth, very few insects live within the entire complex, contributing to its serene ambiance. In front of the nunnery lies Tianchi, a square-shaped pool with a width of 1.5 meters and a depth of 1.4 meters. It never dries up in droughts nor overflows during heavy rains. The water in Tianchi is cool, crystal clear, sweet, and delicious—considered high-quality mineral water. Legend has it that Li Bai once brewed wine from this fine spring to entertain his poet friends, often getting himself thoroughly drunk.

　　   There are many scenic spots around Tianchi Nunnery, with notable ones including Dragon Leaps into Tianchi, Silver Cave Exploration, Guanyin Sitting on a Lotus, Birds Returning to the Forest, Dragon Ridge Touching the Sky, Tianchi Jade Spring, and Sunset Greeting the Monarch.

　　   Tianchi Nunnery is blessed with spiritual land and remarkable scenery, offering a tranquil environment ideal for urban dwellers seeking peace and rejuvenation.