[2025 Fuzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Dingguang Pagoda Temple (Updated Jun)

🎈Dingguang Temple, located at the foot of the famous scenic spot in Fuzhou, Yushan Scenic Area, is a palace-style building and was one of the famous temples in Fuzhou during the Five Dynasties. 🍃In Fuzhou, the Dingguang Pagoda in Dingguang Temple should be more famous than the temple itself. The locals like to describe Fuzhou with "three mountains and two towers", one of the "two towers" is the Black Tower, and the other is the White Tower in the temple. The trees in the temple are hung with many prayer wind chimes. When you go to the temple to pray, you can hear the crisp sound of wind chimes~~ with the unique tranquility and peace of the temple. ✅Temple architecture The temple is divided into three halls: Heavenly King Hall, Daxiong Treasure Hall (Pilu Hall), and Fayu Hall; 👉Fayu Hall is built by people to commemorate the monk Yishou of the Later Liang Temple who "accumulated firewood and self-immolation", sacrificed himself for rain, and was also the place where Yan Fu studied, and the school building of the Fujian Shipbuilding Academy in the Qing Dynasty. Dingguang Pagoda (White Pagoda) 👉The original name of Fuzhou White Pagoda is Baoen Dingguang Duobao Pagoda, which was built by Min Wang Wang Shenzhi for his parents to recommend blessings in the first year of Tang Tianyou (904). It is said that when digging the foundation on the slope of Yushan West Foot, a five-color treasure bead was dug out, so the pagoda was named "Baoen Duobao Dingguang Pagoda". 🎫Ticket: Free Address: No. 9, Yushan Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou City 🕰️Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 🚗Transportation 🚌Bus: Take 103, 125, 101, 133, 8, 106, 86, K3, 122, 173, 97, 16, 303, 306 and get off at Yushan (Xiehe Hospital) Station 🚇Subway: Line 1, 2 at Nanmendou Station (Exit G1) walk 43 meters ---------------------------------------- Exploration | Travel | Photography | Exhibition | Good things sharing

Dingguang Temple in Fuzhou, also known as Dingguang Pagoda Temple or commonly as White Pagoda Temple, is one of Fuzhou's famous temples and a provincial-level cultural relic protection site. Originally built in 905 AD during the Later Tang Dynasty by Wang Shenzhi, the King of Minyue, the temple includes the White Pagoda (also known as the Bao'en Dingguang Duobao Pagoda), a renowned Fuzhou landmark. The Vairocana Hall is the temple's grandest structure. Its elegant, curved roof ridge is inscribed with "Buddha's Light Increases, Dharma Wheel Constantly Turns," and features flying dragons at each end flanking a large orb. With its double-eaved roof, surrounding corridors, inscribed pillars, and antique octagonal palace lanterns, the hall evokes both a solemn Buddhist sanctuary and a lavish palace. Inside, the layout is meticulously arranged. Vairocana Buddha sits at the center on a large lotus throne, hands in a mudra, a smile gracing his face. To his left is Manjushri Bodhisattva, riding a blue lion and holding a wisdom sword, and to his right is Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, holding a ruyi scepter and riding a six-tusked white elephant. Further inside, Amitabha Buddha and Bhaisajyaguru Buddha are enshrined on either side. With both the Buddhas of the Three Worlds and the Three Sages of the Flower Garland Sutra represented, the hall is truly comprehensive. Bowing before these exquisite Buddha statues brings a sense of peace, clarity, and belonging.

Hidden in Fuzhou's downtown area is the ancient temple of Dingguang Temple, which dates back to the Later Tang Dynasty of the Five Dynasties. At that time, the King of Min, Wang Shenzhi, built this temple to repay his father and brother for their upbringing, and it was originally named Baoen Temple. However, the name of Dingguang Temple has a legendary story. It is said that during the construction of the temple, a colorful pearl was dug out from the ground, which was dazzling. Wang Shenzhi was surprised and happy to see this vision, so he changed the name of the temple to Dingguang Temple. The roof ridge and plaque of the temple are indigo blue, with golden brackets, colorful dragons flying on the eaves, and the patterns on the pillars and beams are exquisitely carved, which is very exquisite. The Dingguang Pagoda in Dingguang Temple is the White Pagoda in Fuzhou's "Three Mountains and Two Pagodas". Also known as: Baoen Dingguang Tower, the Southern Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji was the prefect of Fuzhou, and once climbed the White Tower, he sighed: There are many sorrows in life, only the yellow flowers are still the same

The 'Baoyin Dingguang Dabao Pagoda,' commonly known as the 'Dingguang Pagoda,' and also colloquially called the 'White Pagoda' due to its whitewashed exterior walls, stands on the southwestern foothills of Yushan in Fuzhou. It echoes the Wutower on Wushan and is a symbolic ancient building of Fuzhou. In the first year of the Tianyou era of the Tang Dynasty (905), the King of Min, Wang Shenzhi, built this pagoda to pay tribute to his deceased parents and elder brother. Legend has it that a luminous pearl was discovered while digging the foundation of the pagoda, hence the name 'Baoyin Dingguang Dabao Pagoda.' The pagoda has an octagonal plan, with seven levels, measuring 77 feet (about 25.6 meters) in diameter and 240 feet (about 80 meters) in height. Surrounding the pagoda, a complex of buildings including pagoda halls, Dharma halls, and monks' quarters were constructed, presenting a grand view. In the thirteenth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1534), it was destroyed by a lightning strike. In the twenty-seventh year of the Jiajing era (1548), local gentry such as Gong Yongqing and Zhang Jing initiated a fundraising campaign for its reconstruction. The rebuilt White Pagoda used the original central pile as the core of the structure, with wooden floors and staircases inside. The total height is 41 meters, nearly half the height of the original. The pagoda still has eight sides, with each level offsetting a door, while the other walls have arched niches for Buddha statues. Visitors can ascend to the top via a spiral staircase connected by a gallery through the pagoda doors. The current White Pagoda is the one rebuilt in the twenty-seventh year of the Jiajing era. In the thirty-eighth year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1773), it was repaired again, and a stone inscription was set to commemorate it. The inscription, written by the famous Fuzhou scholar Meng Chaoran, is still embedded on the right side of the first-level pagoda door. In 1958, the decaying wooden stairs and columns inside the pagoda were repaired or replaced, and an iron gourd was added to the spire along with a lightning rod. In 1963, during the cleaning of the surrounding environment of Dingguang Temple, the bluestone base of the Tang Dynasty wooden pagoda was unearthed. According to the restored base, the original diameter of the foundation was 10 meters larger than the existing one. The pagoda was listed as a Fujian Provincial Cultural Heritage Site in 1991. Transportation: Take Fuzhou Metro Lines 1 or 2 to Nanmendou Station, exit at G1. Multiple bus lines directly reach Yushan Station. Nearby attractions: 1. Yushan Scenic Area. Yushan is one of the three mountains of Fuzhou, with many cliff inscriptions, which calligraphy and history enthusiasts can ponder over. There are also Qigong Ancestral Hall, Jiuri Tai Concert Hall, Zhenjun Hall, Wanxiang Pavilion, Jiuxian Observatory, and Liandan Well among other sights. 2. Zhuzi Bazaar, which houses the well-preserved classical garden - Furong Garden. Only a 15-minute walk away. 3. The 5A-rated scenic spot Sanfang Qixiang, a 25-minute walk. Dining: 1. The 'Hao Zizai' semi-rock Zen tea and vegetarian restaurant inside Dingguang Temple. 2. Nearby is 'Antai Lou,' an old-brand Fuzhou flavor restaurant, offering snacks and full meals. 3. Trotter Broken Shop Nanmendou or Wuyi Square branch. 4. Head directly to Sanfang Qixiang or Dongjie Mouth area to enjoy a variety of delicious foods.