The Dafo Temple in Guangzhou gives off a 'Spirited Away bathhouse' vibe

🏰 Dafo Temple was originally built during the Southern Han Dynasty (917-971), initially named Xinzang Temple, and was later destroyed by war. In 1663, the second year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, the Prince of Pingnan, Shang Kexi, rebuilt the temple on the old site and renamed it Dafo Temple to pacify the people. ✅ The temple's Grand Hall houses three giant Buddha statues, each 6 meters tall and weighing 10 tons, made of bronze (Shakyamuni Buddha in the center, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra). It is said that 'as people pass by Dafo Temple, the temple's Buddha surpasses them in size,' making it the crown jewel of Lingnan's grand temples and grand Buddhas. 🌟 The giant nanmu pillars used in the main hall were donated by the king of Annam (present-day Vietnam) and have remained intact for nearly 350 years. The temple's architectural art is a blend of the official temple style of the capital and Lingnan style. ✨ The Nanhai Guanyin Hall enshrines a 10-meter-tall bronze statue of Guanyin, exquisitely carved and vividly portrayed. 🛕 The temple also preserves ancient wells, bells, and trees, which, having withstood the test of time, exude a particularly ancient charm. ⏰ Opening hours: 8:00~21:30, free admission, no reservation needed. 📍 Address and transportation 🚘: ❇️ No. 21, Huixin Middle Street, Huifu East Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province (usually worshippers enter from the south gate on Huifu East Road and exit from the north gate on Xihu Road, which is the best spot for checking in and taking photos) 🚝 A few minutes' walk from Exit D of Gongyuanqian Station on Subway Lines 1/2 or Exit B of Beijing Road Station on Line 6. ❣️ Touring tips: Incense can be offered in the Grand Hall, with three sticks of free incense per person! There are merit boxes in the temple (QR code payment available), and you can also pay to light lamps for blessings (starting at 10 yuan each) or write blessing cards. The temple houses the first temple library in Guangdong Province, which interested friends can visit. There are many temple-related items for sale at the exit, where you can buy peace charms and prayer beads. The vegetarian food here is also famous; there is a vegetarian buffet restaurant on the negative first floor of Pu Jue Building, 108 yuan per person on weekdays, and 138 yuan per person on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month. Dongge Building's second floor has a vegetarian pavilion where you can order dishes and eat set meals. The lighting time is from 19:00 to 21:00. As the lights come on at dusk, the illuminated buildings make visitors feel as if they are in Hayao Miyazaki's animation 'Spirited Away'. When visiting the temple, do not make loud noises, take photos of the architectural environment only, and do not photograph the Buddha statues!