Suzhou
Hanshan Temple
Hanshan Temple (the Cold Mountain Temple) is one of Suzhou's most beloved Buddhist sites, founded around 1,500 years ago in the Liang dynasty. It takes its name from the eccentric Tang-dynasty monk-poet Hanshan, who is said to have lived here. Generations of visitors arrive with a single poem in mind: Zhang Ji's "A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge," whose closing lines — "Beyond the walls of Suzhou stands Hanshan Temple; at midnight its bell reaches the traveller's boat" — have been recited for more than a thousand years.
Halls and arched bridge of Hanshan Temple
What to see
Behind the temple's striking yellow screen wall lie incense-filled prayer halls, a serene bell tower, and the towering Puming Pagoda. The great bronze bell is the heart of the temple's fame; each New Year's Eve it is struck 108 times in a famous ceremony to dispel the year's worldly cares. Just outside stand Maple Bridge (Fengqiao) and the old Grand Canal that inspired the poem.
Willows and white temple wall by the pond
Opening hours
Open daily, about 7:30am–5:30pm (last entry around 5:00pm). The temple is busiest on Buddhist festival days and around the New Year bell ceremony.
Tickets
Admission is roughly ¥20 in high season and ¥15 in low season, with reduced rates for students and seniors. Booking via the temple's official channel is recommended at peak times.
Hanshan Temple's yellow screen wall with calligraphy
Getting there
The temple sits in the western suburbs on Fengqiao Road, beside the Grand Canal. Take a taxi/ride-hail, or combine it with a Grand Canal cruise; it pairs naturally with a walk over Maple Bridge.
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are ideal. For atmosphere, arrive early when incense smoke drifts through quiet courtyards; for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, come on New Year's Eve to hear the 108 bell strikes.
Highlights
- A 1,500-year-old temple immortalised by Zhang Ji's Tang-dynasty poem
- The famous bronze bell, struck 108 times each New Year's Eve
- The towering Puming Pagoda and incense-filled prayer halls
- The landmark yellow screen wall, a favourite photo spot
- Maple Bridge and the Grand Canal just outside the gate
Travel Tips
Arrive early
Morning incense and quiet courtyards capture the temple at its most atmospheric.
New Year bell
On 31 December the temple holds its famous 108-strike bell ceremony — book well ahead.
Walk to Maple Bridge
Step outside to Fengqiao and the Grand Canal, the very scene of the famous poem.
