The Seventh Wonder of the World in Nanjing? A Beijinger's Thoughts on the Grand Bao'en Temple

My thoughts on the Grand Bao'en Temple in Nanjing: Let's be honest, don't believe everything you read online! First: The Grand Bao'en Temple is not just a temple, it's an "archaeological site" Many people visit Nanjing for the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Confucius Temple, but end up exhausted and with photos full of people. There's one place you shouldn't miss, and that's the Grand Bao'en Temple Heritage Park! It's not just about temples and Buddha statues, its history spans from Sun Quan of the Three Kingdoms to Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty, and is known as the "Mount Everest of Chinese Buddhist culture". Sounds impressive, right? Second: The pagoda here is even more beautiful than the legend Many people think the glazed pagoda in the temple is just a "relic", but the heritage park has rebuilt a modern version of the glazed pagoda, 9 stories high, and lit up at night, like a "night pearl". The original Ming Dynasty pagoda was a world wonder, and the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci was amazed, calling it the "seventh wonder of the world". Third: You can "dig for treasure" here, not just see the pagoda There's an underground palace here, which sounds mysterious. It's actually an excavation site, where the relics of the Buddha were found! The relics are not just "glass balls", but super important treasures in Buddhism. You can still see this temple treasure with your own eyes, and it's truly awe-inspiring. Fourth: The historical stories in the temple are more exciting than palace dramas The temple was originally called "Jianchu Temple", but when the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di became emperor, he spent a fortune to rebuild it as the "Grand Bao'en Temple" to repay his mother (Empress Ma) for raising him. How extravagant was it? Zhu Di used "Ming Dynasty Hermes" - glazed bricks to build the pagoda, with a gold top, and the temple was as grand as the "Forbidden City". It was the "number one temple in the world", but was damaged during the late Qing Dynasty and the Taiping Rebellion, which is truly heartbreaking. Fifth: The craftsmanship of the glazed pagoda replica is extraordinary The modern version of the glazed pagoda is not purely ancient, it uses sound and light effects, and at night, the lights make you feel like you've traveled back to the Ming Dynasty! There's also an immersive 3D exhibition hall at the base of the pagoda, where you can learn about history and feel like an "archaeologist traveling through time", with full interactivity. Sixth: The tickets are a bit expensive, but worth it! The tickets for the Grand Bao'en Temple Heritage Park are not cheap, adult tickets are 90 yuan, and student tickets are discounted (remember to bring your student ID), but the photos you can take here are definitely worth it! The glass reflections of the glazed pagoda, the Buddha's light, all give a cinematic feel. Compared to the crowded Confucius Temple, the Grand Bao'en Temple is both comfortable and educational. In summary: The Grand Bao'en Temple in Nanjing is not an ordinary temple, but a "magical treasure" that combines history, religion, cultural relics, and cultural experiences. Whether you're a history buff or just here for photos, you won't be disappointed!