Nanputuo Temple

Nanputuo Temple stands at 515 Siming South Road in Siming District, Xiamen, Fujian province, China, at the foot of Wulao Peak beside Xiamen University. It is among the best-known Buddhist temples in southern Fujian and dates back to the Tang dynasty, with later rebuilding in the Qing dynasty. The temple is arranged along a central axis rising up the hillside, beginning with the Hall of Heavenly Kings and continuing through the Mahavira Hall, the Great Compassion Hall, which houses a thousand-armed Guanyin, and the Dharma Hall, with a Buddhist scripture building above. A pond with a carved stone bridge and releasing-life ritual lies in front of the temple. Behind the main halls, a path climbs Wulao Peak with stone inscriptions and viewpoints over Xiamen. Visitors can also buy vegetarian meals at the temple restaurant, which is popular with locals and offers noodles and vegetable dishes. Entry to the temple is free, though a passport reservation may be required on busy days, and visitors should check current rules. A visit takes one and a half to two hours, or longer if climbing the peak. The temple opens from about 06:30 to 18:00. Early morning is quietest, with worshippers chanting and incense smoke in the courtyards; weekends, holidays and the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month draw large crowds. The temple is about fifteen minutes by city bus or taxi from Zhongshan Road, and next to Xiamen University, so the two can be combined. Dress modestly and avoid photographing worshippers in prayer.