# Guoqing Temple (国清寺)

Tiantai Mountain, Zhejiang Province · East China, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/guoqing-temple
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** Free
- **Opening hours:** 7：30—16：00
- **Time needed:** 1–2 hours
- **Getting there:** Near Guoqing Scenic Area (bus stop)
- **Good for:** Temples, Nature

## About Guoqing Temple

This thousand-year-old temple is a must-see on any visit to Mount Tiantai. Its name is known far and wide, yet its gate is discreetly understated; only once you step inside do you catch sight of towering ancient trees and feel the grandeur of the place. At Guoqing Temple, the mountain is the temple and the temple is the mountain, and its simple, Zen-inspired architecture exudes a strong sense of otherworldliness. When you chat with the monks and ask them for directions, you will notice their warmth, along with a deliberate sense of distance, and you may feel that you are close to the Buddha yet still far away. Because Guoqing Temple has had considerable influence on Buddhism in Japan and Korea, it still draws foreign visitors when incense offerings are at their peak.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 1236. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.