A PLACE, A STORY / Quanzhou
Kaiyuan Temple
Twin stone pagodas frame a Buddhist temple with a maritime past. Look for the varied forms that connect Quanzhou’s architecture with cultural exchange.
© Tyg728 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and JPEG compressed. · Original source · License
© Tyg728 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and JPEG compressed. · Original source · License
Kaiyuan Temple belongs to the story of Quanzhou’s maritime trade. Its Buddhist buildings also preserve traces of contact with other traditions, including Hindu carvings incorporated into the Main Hall. Two stone pagodas stand on opposite sides of the temple’s central buildings.
The whole complex can feel imposing, but one carved figure or a repeated shape gives the eye somewhere to settle. A closer look reveals how a port city’s connections can become part of its architecture.
Editorial sources
Editorial review:
Before travelling, check current access, opening times and entry requirements with the relevant official sources.
