Suzhou - Hanshan Temple | Seeking the bell sounds and Zen spirit of a thousand years!

📍Detailed address: No. 24, Hanshan Temple Lane, Gusu District 🕐Opening hours: 7:30-18:00, Admission stops at 17:30 🎫Ticket price: 20 yuan, Half price for students, Free for children under 6 years old and seniors 65 years old (inclusive) and above, Discounts available when purchasing in advance on various online platforms 🚴‍♀️Transportation: 🚇Take the subway Line 1 to Xihuan Road Station and cycle from there 🚌Take bus 9002/30/31/33/301/313/40/416 etc. to Hanshan Temple (South) Station and walk 🚗It is recommended to take a taxi or drive (Navigation to Fengqiao Scenic Area Parking Lot 8/hour) Tour route: Must-visit spot at the west gate - the Screen Wall → Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings → Arhat Hall → Guanyin Temple → Mahavira Hall → Hanshi Spring → Wen Zhong Pavilion → Bell Tower → Hehe Ancestral Court → Puming Pagoda → Guanyin Peak → Exit Incense burning and blessings: After entering the west gate, the incense burning area is right there. At the main entrance of the Mahavira Hall. Family blessing incense 💰80/set. You can bring your own incense or buy outside the temple. It is recommended to worship clockwise. Light the incense with your left hand and place it in the censer. Counting Arhats: To the left after entering is the Arhat Hall. After burning incense, you can enter the Arhat Hall to find an Arhat that you feel connected to, count your age and find the Arhat that corresponds to you and bow three times Bell ringing for blessings (Paid 💰5/3 times) You can ring the bell in the Bell Tower for blessings, a paid activity. On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, there will be a bell-ringing ceremony 108 times, which is said to symbolize the elimination of 108 kinds of troubles Copying scriptures (Free) Free scripture copying in the Scripture Copying Hall, located next to the Vegetarian Hall. Copying takes about half an hour, and you can place the completed scriptures in the cabinets on both sides Feeding koi (Paid 10/bag of fish food) The koi in Hanshan Temple are super big. After buying fish food, you can feed and touch the koi up close. Get some good luck from the koi. Note that one bag of feed is for one person only Requesting Eighteen Seeds: You can request Eighteen Seeds at the Dharma Item Distribution Center (💰50) Stamping: At the entrance of the Vegetarian Hall (Free) At the Night Berth Sweet Soup Shop (Stamping available with purchase) 1 Hanshan Temple Vegetarian Hall (7:30~17:30) Specializes in three types of vegetarian noodles. You must try the noodles at the Vegetarian Hall. The taste is super fresh and delicious! Although it's often crowded, the turnover is quick. The taste is generally sweet, typical of Suzhou-style thin noodles. If you like spicy food, definitely try adding some spicy oil - it's incredibly fragrant~ Guanyin Blessed Noodles 💰22 (Mushrooms + Bamboo Shoots + Daylily + Cordyceps Flowers) Peaceful Sauerkraut Bamboo Shoot Noodles 💰18 (Sauerkraut + Flat Bamboo Shoots + Green Peas) Auspicious Assorted Noodles 💰18 (Bean Sprouts + Seafood Mushrooms + Black Fungus + Vegetarian Chicken) Also available are flower cakes, cold dishes, and hot dishes 2. Hanshan Temple Cultural Ice Cream: Right at the entrance where they sell noodles, there's the popular ice cream with Hanshan Temple branding. Available in mango, strawberry, and grape flavors. 18/piece Tips: Prepare some cash (needed for paper tickets) You can visit the free Fengqiao Scenic Area nearby You can rent an audio guide at the entrance (25) You can store luggage at No. 902 Fengqiao Road Do not feed the temple's cats at will Do not wear overly revealing clothing