XICHAN TEMPLE

It is one of the ten most famous Fujian places of worship. Established under the Sui Generis (581-618), the temple had ramifications in Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia. The ensemble comprises over 40 buildings. The central hall (Daxiong) is a massive wooden structure and is the centrepiece of the temple. Many lychees trees, still standing today, were planted in the hall of the temple under Tang and Song. In past centuries, the men of letters settled at the freshness of the temple in summer to compose.