The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees — Liurong Temple

The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees is an ancient temple that was founded 1,400 years ago. The temple is a serene place in the busy streets of downtown Guangzhou. It houses cultural relics and has a world-famous pagoda.

The temple got its current name because of a historically famous poet called Su Shi who visited the temple 1,000 years ago and wrote an inscription about the six banyan trees in the temple’s grounds. Since then, it has been called the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees or Liurong Temple.

• Name: the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (Liurong Temple, 六榕寺)
• Founded: 420–479 AD (Liu Song Dynasty)
• Area: about 8,000 square meters
• Must-sees: the Lotus Pagoda, the bronze statue of Shakyamuni
• Suitable for: Buddhists, culture lovers
• Open: 9am to 5pm
• Entry cost: free

The Best Times to Visit

The best times to visit the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees are autumn and winter, from October to March, because the temperatures are mild and the amount of rainfall is lower.

On the 1^st and 15^th day of every lunar month, especially at Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival, local people will visit the temple and pray for good luck. If you are traveling during this period, seize the opportunity to get closer to the local people and culture.

Highlights of the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees

The Lotus Pagoda (六榕寺塔)

The Lotus Pagoda, also called the Flower Pagoda, got its name due to its flower-like appearance. It was first built in 1097 and rebuilt several times in the following centuries. The pagoda we see today was built in 1931.

The pagoda is 57 meters high. The octagonal pagoda looks as though it has nine stories but there are actually 17 stories inside. With glazed tiles on the roof and beautiful coloring on the walls, the pagoda looks like a flowery pillar standing among the green trees.

The pagoda also has a bronze pillar rising from the bottom to the top with 1,000 bronze Buddha statues on it, weighing 5,000 kilograms.

At present, the Lotus Pagoda is temporarily closed to visitors.

Go to see the most famous Chinese temples.

The Great Buddha’s Hall (大雄宝殿)

The Great Buddha’s Hall is the main hall of the temple. It is 14 meters high and covers an area of 300 square meters.

The three bronze Buddha statues in the hall were forged in 1663. They are 6 meters high and weigh 10 tons each. Other religious articles, prayer flags, and lotus lights decorate the hall in a riot of colors.

The Friendship Hall

The Friendship Hall is next to the Great Buddha’s Hall and was built in tribute to the friendship between China and Thailand. The 2.6-meter-tall bronze Shakyamuni statue, which weighs 800 kilograms, was sent by Thailand.

Tips

You can get three free joss sticks when entering the temple and free tea is available. The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees doesn’t encourage visitors to buy and burn a lot of joss sticks, so it is often less smoky than other Chinese Buddhist temples you may have visited.

Vegetarian food is provided in the temple.

Transportation

• Address: 87 Liurong Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
• Bus: Take bus 12, 215, or 253 to Liurong Road Stop and walk northward for about 3 minutes.
• Metro: Traveling by Guangzhou Metro is convenient because Line 1 and Line 2 both go close to it. No matter whether you take Line 1 or 2, go to Gongyuanqian Station and take Exit I2. Search for the “Temple of the Six Banyan Trees” or “Liurong Temple” on your mobile map app.
• Taxi: Show this information to the driver: 请带我去六榕寺 (Please take me to the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.)

Visit the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees with Us

If you are planning a trip to Guangzhou, or just have a short layover, we can help you customize a tour including this temple and the highlights of the city.

Check out our 4-day Guangzhou and Shenzhen tour for more ideas.