Hanshan Temple

Introducing Hanshan Temple
Hanshan Temple is also known as Cold Mountain Temple. Hanshan Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located in Suzhou’s Gusu District. Hanshan Temple was established during the Liang Dynasty’s Tianjian era (502-519 AD). It has weathered a turbulent history over its 1500-year existence, enduring multiple destructive fires that have necessitated repeated reconstructions.

Spanning approximately 13,000 square meters (3.21 acres), Hanshan temple complex features classical Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) buildings covering over 3,400 square meters (0.84 acres). The temple is notable for its unique layout, which breaks from the traditional central axis design often found in Chinese architecture. Visitors can explore a impressive array of structures within the complex, including the Mahavira Hall, Sutra Library, Bell Tower, Stele Gallery, Maple River Pavilion, and Frost Bell Pavilion.

Beyond its architectural and historical value, Hanshan Temple continues to thrive as a place of active worship, most notably during its famed New Year’s Eve celebration. This tradition draws thousands of worshippers annually to witness the bell being struck 108 times, a symbolic act meant to usher in a year filled with good fortune and happiness. It is this unique blend of history, culture, and living tradition that makes Hanshan Temple a beloved landmark in Suzhou.

Hanshan Temple Fast Facts
• AKA: Cold Mountain Temple
• Chinese Name: Hanshansi 寒山寺
• Best Time to Visit: All year around
• Recommended Visiting Hours: 1 - 2 x hours
• Things to Do: Photography, Buddhism, History and Culture
• Opening Hours: 7:00 – 18:00
• Entrance Fee: CNY20
• Address: No.24 Hanshansi Alley, Gusu District, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province

What to Expect at the Hanshan Temple
Hanshan Temple evokes a calming tranquility, its grounds surpass even the famed gardens of Suzhou in beauty. The harmonious blend of nature and Buddhism creates an atmosphere that guarantees an uplifting experience for visitors.

The Mahavira Hall
The Mahavira Hall of Hanshan Temple is a sight to behold. Its hip-and-gable roof features gracefully upturned eaves and imposing ridges. Atop a stone platform in front of the hall sits a bronze cauldron, its front bearing the inscription “百炼成钢” (tempered into steel). This inscription commemorates a legendary trial by fire between Buddhist monks and Taoist priests, where each group tested the resilience of their scriptures in fire. The Buddhist Diamond Sutra, placed within the bronze cauldron amidst flames, emerged unscathed. These characters engraved on the cauldron stand as a testament to this victory.

Inside the hall, a dazzling white marble platform serves as the base for a golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, seated in serene tranquility. Lining the walls on either side of the Buddha stand eighteen Arhat statues, meticulously cast in iron and gilded during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Originally residing in the sacred Buddhist site of Mount Wutai, these statues eventually found their home within the hallowed halls of Hanshan Temple.

Stele Gallery
In the stele gallery of the Hanshan Temple, amidst calligraphic masterpieces and engraved Buddhist scriptures, stands a stone monument inscribed with the renowned Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) poem “Night Mooring near Maple Bridge” by Zhang Ji (张继). The poem’s evocative lines paint a vivid scene: “The moon sets, crows cry, frost fills the sky; / By the mapled river, fishing lights mock my sleep. / Beyond Suzhou’s walls, from Cold Mountain’s fane, / The midnight bell reaches my lonely boat.” Calligraphed by the renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Yu Yue (俞樾), this stele, standing approximately 3.5 meters (11.5 ft) tall and 1 meter (3.3 ft) wide, has become a treasured highlight of Hanshan Temple.

Sutra Library & Hanshi Hall
The Sutra Library at Hanshan Temple is a remarkable fusion of architecture and purpose, deeply intertwined with the temple’s rich history and spirit. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by the ground floor walls, embedded with verses from the Diamond Sutra, which offer spiritual sustenance to all. The Library’s allure is further enhanced by calligraphy steles from renowned figures like Dong Qichang (董其昌), a celebrated Ming Dynasty artist.

Ascending to the second floor, one encounters sculptures depicting Xuanzang and his disciples’ return from their legendary “Journey to the West,” hinting at the building’s original function as a repository of sacred texts. This connection to the temple’s spiritual heart is further emphasized by the Hall of Hanshan and Shide (together known as Hanshi), housed within the Library. Here, statues of the temple’s legendary namesakes serve as a tangible link to its past.

The Bell Tower
The Bell Tower houses two bells, each telling a different story. One, forged in China, represents the temple’s enduring connection to its homeland. The other, cast in Japan and bearing an inscription by Prime Minister Itō Hirobumi, stirs controversy. The presence of this Japanese bell has become entangled with the theory that Japan, during its imperial expansion, plundered the temple’s original Tang dynasty bell.

This theory, whether true or not, has ignited nationalistic sentiments among both Chinese and Korean communities, fanning the flames of historical grievances. In a powerful act of symbolic reclamation, Hanshan Temple commissioned a new bell in 2007. This monumental bronze bell, weighing 108 tons and measuring 8.5 meters (28 ft) high and 5.2 meters (17 ft) in diameter, is inscribed with 70,094 Chinese characters from the Lotus Sutra. It stands as a powerful symbol of reclaimed heritage, intended to eclipse the controversial Japanese bell and reaffirm the temple’s cultural identity.

How to Get to Hanshan Temple
• By Bus: Take bus 31, 33, 301, 313, 415, 932 to Hanshansi South Station.

Additional Travel Advice on Hanshan Temple
• Please dress and behave appropriately in the temple.
• The admission ticket on the New Year’s Eve is ¥100 per person, for the annual "tolling of the bells" ceremony and a series of activities are held in the temple.