Hanshan Temple
寒山寺Buddhist Temple
苏州市姑苏区寒山寺弄24号
No. 24 HanShanSi Nong
Gusu, Suzhou
07:30–18:00
Pricing
Admission: ¥20
Hanshan Temple (寒山寺) is Suzhou's best-known Buddhist temple, famous across China and much of East Asia for a poem written more than 1,200 years ago.
Standing beside the ancient waterways of FengQiao (枫桥) and close to the Grand Canal, the temple traces its origins to the early sixth century. Its halls, bells, stone inscriptions and pagoda are worth exploring, but it was the connection with Tang dynasty poet Zhang Ji (张继) that made Hanshan Temple one of Suzhou's most famous historical attractions.
A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge
During the Tang dynasty, Zhang Ji wrote A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge (枫桥夜泊), describing a sleepless night aboard a boat outside Suzhou.
The poem's final lines describe the sound of the midnight bell from Hanshan Temple reaching the traveller's boat outside the city.
The poem became one of the best-known pieces of classical Chinese poetry associated with Suzhou, making the temple's bell an enduring part of Hanshan Temple's identity.
The Bells of Hanshan
Bells are central to the story and identity of Hanshan Temple. The ancient bell associated with Zhang Ji's poem has long since disappeared, but bell ringing remains one of the temple's best-known traditions.
The temple is particularly famous for its New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony, when the bell is traditionally struck 108 times to welcome the new year.
Visitors can also ring a bell during a normal visit for a small additional charge; official Suzhou visitor information lists a ¥5 bell-ringing fee.
Suzhou Scene Tip
Allow some time outside the temple itself. Exploring FengQiao, the waterways and the Grand Canal makes a visit to Hanshan Temple much more rewarding than simply entering, photographing the halls and leaving.
If you know the temple from its famous poem, seeing the relationship between the temple, bridge and water is what brings the story to life.
