The 'Little Forbidden City' in Tianmu Mountain Can't Stay Hidden! A Place of Blessings, Ascend for Distant Views, and Privately Savor Zen Serenity

Ancient trees twist like dragons, clear creeks meander around—nestled between Zhaoming and Xuri peaks on the southern foot of West Tianmu Mountain in Lin'an, Hangzhou, lies the renowned Jiangnan temple, Chanyuan Temple.

This thousand-year-old ancient temple, slumbering in the emerald mountains and radiating a mystical aura, is the earliest temple recorded in historical documents in the West Tianmu Mountain area of Lin'an.

Chanyuan Temple is grand in scale and complete in layout, with red walls and golden tiles, a deep Zen atmosphere, like a 'Little Forbidden City' hidden amidst the graceful Tianmu.

Inheriting the Buddhist legacy of Tianmu Mountain that has continued for over a thousand years, Chanyuan Temple still draws pilgrims from all over who come to pay homage.

Here, you can not only devoutly pray and worship to cleanse your soul, climb the high pagoda to take in the full splendor of Tianmu scenery, but also stay at the charmingly antique guesthouse, Feiwen Shangketang, and embrace a heart full of poetry and Zen.

'Left ear listens to Zen, right ear listens to the wind'—follow Feiwen's footsteps today and set off on a journey of Zen blessings!

A Moment of Peace for Yourself

“Leisurely living with nothing to remark upon, the fragrance of a stick of incense naturally lingers; upon waking there is tea, when hungry there is food; walking, I watch the flowing water; sitting, I watch the clouds.”

Stepping through the temple’s old yellow gate, right before you stands a magnificent podocarpus with a wide-spreading canopy—planted by the temple's founder, National Master Yulin himself.

A tiny branch back then, now it stands majestic like a canopy, calmly surveying the rises and falls of ages.

Each patch of land is a pure land, each incense stick a bodhi. The first essential thing upon arriving at Chanyuan Temple is to purify your hands and devoutly light a stick of incense.

Beside the podocarpus, there is a 'hand-washing basin.' Washing your hands purifies your heart; the clear water washes away the dust of the mundane world, allowing you to enter the temple with a clean and tranquil mind.

The Hall of Heavenly Kings is the first hall after entering the mountain gate of Chanyuan Temple. It is a brick-and-wood structure painted vermilion. In front of the hall, Buddhist chants rise and fall, candle flames flicker, and incense smoke curls upward.

Light a stick of incense here, keep a peaceful and detached mindset, enjoy and experience life as it comes, savor and reflect on its meaning—this is a kind of blissful detachment from the mundane.

Feel the Power of Remaining Unperturbed by Praise or Blame

Climbing the steps gradually, you arrive at the Weituo (Skanda) Hall. In the courtyard stand ancient trees planted in the Qing Dynasty—golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus, and loquat trees, among other venerable species.

Chanyuan Temple is a famed place where Weituo Bodhisattva manifested his presence; according to legend, he appeared here multiple times to guide and liberate sentient beings.

It is said that the very first Buddhist temple in the Tianmu Mountains was built personally by a wandering monk who was an incarnation of Weituo Bodhisattva. Later, Weituo Bodhisattva twice protected Chan Master Gaofeng when he fell off a cliff during his meditation practice at Lion Cliff in Tianmu Mountain.

This ancient temple, once destroyed in the flames of war, has been restored to an even more magnificent state.

With yellow walls and red tiles, though it may not rival the grandeur of Lingyin Temple, it offers more tranquility and ease.

With a devout heart, pray for peace and good fortune in the new year and success in all your endeavors. Let it soothe the weariness of your soul in the midst of a busy life and allow you to enjoy inner peace in this noisy world.

If the opportunity arises, you might chat a bit with the resident monks and sense their composed, unflappable strength—neither hurried nor slow, as light as cloud and wind.

Take in the Full Scenery of the Mountain Temple

Strolling forward, you reach the tallest building in the temple, the Yulin Guoshi Pagoda. This octagonal seven-story pagoda is built with glazed bricks and tiles, featuring carved beams and painted murals, exuding elegance and grandeur.

Each level of the pagoda features murals depicting Buddhist stories and the life of National Master Yulin, in vivid colors and exquisite detail.

From the top of the pagoda, you can overlook the entire temple compound. With a broad view, you see pavilions and halls with glazed tiles and red walls all faintly hidden among misty green mountains, as if in a fairyland.

It feels as if through the drifting mist, you can witness the changing fortunes of Chanyuan Temple since its very beginning.

Standing atop the pagoda and gazing into the distance, the melodious bell of Chanyuan Temple rings in your ears, while your eyes are filled with the tranquil mountain scenery and Zen atmosphere.

Your inner worries dissipate, and healing comes gently with the mountain breeze, making your whole being feel light and relaxed.

'Left ear listens to Zen, right ear listens to the wind'

Find a place of sentiment, listen to the evening drums and morning bells, watch the first glimmers of daylight. With 'left ear listening to Zen, right ear listening to the wind,' experience the slow mountain life where the breeze comes naturally and cicadas chirp by your ear.

Feiwen Shangketang, nestled right next to Chanyuan Temple, is the top choice accommodation for visitors to the temple.

Originally part of the ancient temple, Shangketang was once the temple's guest reception hall. It has been transformed into a cozy multi-functional retreat for Zen practitioners and pilgrims.

Just a few meters away, faithful men and women come and go in a steady stream, but within this space, only the mountain breeze and the ripples from fish splashing in the water remain.

When the mountain scenery of Jiangnan meets ancient Zen charm, it is destined to be a poetic and picturesque encounter.

Shangketang, a space imbued with Zen flavor and the aesthetics of traditional Chinese culture, a tranquil place where one can feel a return to one's innermost self.

The serenity and comfort of the East are blended with clean, modern elements, allowing one to find a beautiful retreat in the floating world—peaceful and nourishing to the heart.

After a visit to Chanyuan Temple, the tangled thoughts in your heart slowly melt away among the dreamlike pavilions and the crystal-clear lake views, replaced by a vast and serene mindset.

Embark on a Zen journey back to simplicity. Pack your bags with delight, and set off with us toward Chanyuan Temple!

A Zen Retreat with Exclusive Vegetarian Tea and Cuisine

Separated from Chanyuan Temple by just a wall, Feiwen Shangketang seems almost symbiotic with the temple. Its exterior walls echo the temple's architectural style with yellow walls and red tiles; you might momentarily mistake it for the monks' meditation quarters.

In fact, Shangketang was converted from the temple’s guest rooms, transforming over 120 standard rooms into more than 60 rooms of various sizes, preserving its original character while enhancing comfort.

All rooms are themed around Zen meditation. The views differ on each side: one side overlooks the temple at the foot of the cliff, where you can quietly enjoy the morning bells and evening drums; the other side offers vistas of Tianmu Mountain’s scenery, with exclusive views of the verdant mountains and forest sea.

In addition to the Zen beauty in every detail, the large soaking tubs in the rooms are highly enticing. Family suites also feature children’s tents, electronic keyboards, and children’s books, giving kids plenty of room to have fun.

With the scenery outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can fully enjoy the gorgeous mountain forest views. Soaking in the tub, with soft music playing and a cup of green tea in hand, let the warm water cure your chilled body—nothing could be more delightful.

Here, when you look up, you see the undulating mountain peaks shifting between reality and illusion. The pure blue sky and white clouds are the standard backdrop, and the air, filled with the scent of fresh grass, seems to completely smooth out the wrinkles in your heart.