Guangxiao Temple

Updated 2026-04-20

A millennium of Zen heritage in the heart of Guangzhou

"There was Guangxiao before Yangcheng."

This ancient saying captures the profound history of Guangxiao Temple, the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Guangzhou . Originally a private residence of a royal family member during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE–25 CE), it was later converted into a temple.

The temple became a significant center for Buddhist translation and teaching in 397 CE, when the monk Dharmayasas from Kashmir built a Buddha hall here . In 435 CE, the Indian monk Gunabhadra constructed an ordination platform on the site .
But Guangxiao Temple's most celebrated moment came in 676 CE, when Huineng, who would become the Sixth Patriarch of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism, was tonsured and ordained here . His legendary "wind and flag" debate - arguing that it was the mind that moves, not the wind or the flag - is commemorated within the temple grounds .

Listed as a National Cultural Heritage Site in 1986 , Guangxiao Temple remains an active place of worship and a serene escape from Guangzhou's bustling city streets.

Photography & Film Locations

The temple has served as a filming location for movies including "New Shaolin Temple" and "Fong Sai-yuk" starring Jet Li, with scenes shot at the Mahavira Hall, Hair-Burial Pagoda, and under the Bodhi Tree . The temple's iconic red walls with yellow tiles are also frequently featured in historic dramas .

### Nearby Attractions
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (Liurong Temple)
Huaisheng Mosque
Beijing Road Shopping District
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

### Opening Hours
- 8:30 - 16:30
- Last entry: 4:00 PM

Best photography times:

• Early morning → soft light, peaceful atmosphere
• 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM → warm light creates stunning red wall shadows

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