Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Chao Zhou Old City 潮州古城 01: Kai Yuan Temple 開元寺

somehow suddenly realized

i actually do not have much to

introduce about Chao Zhou City

 

since everything is quite concentrated

at the old city centre

with Kai Yuan Temple 開元寺

as the starting point

that would be quite a lot to explore

 

of course this is a little over simplified

but that’s basically how it is

along the street and lanes

these are up to you to explore

2015.12.23 Chao Zhou

 

Kai Yuan Temple

sounds familiar

as there are quite some

around the country

 

738 A.C.

during the Tang Dynasty

the Emperor ordered a Kai Yuan Temple

to be built in each and every city

Kai Yuan is exactly the title of the dynasty

 

the other Kai Yuan Temple

really nearby is the one in

Quan Zhou, Fujian

甘露戒壇 X 東西雙塔:開元寺

 

somehow a bit disappointed

as everything in there looked like

they are being newly

renovated / constructed

Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺

 

i don’t really understand

and we actually accessing via the side door

and the main building is built

right in the middle of the side door too

like the central axis has bee shifted

Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺

 

perhaps the very few old structures

Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺

 

the famous Chao Zhou porcelain carving

Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺P1310023Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺

 

can’t wait to explore

the busy street awaits

Chao Zhou Kai Yuan Temple 潮州開元寺

 

but first

vegetarian lunch right outside

Kai Yuan Temple

there are two pretty popular one

across the road

 

we went into the one

exactly facing Kai Yuan Temple

lunch for two

pretty reasonable priced at RMB 100

蓮華素食府 / Lian Hua Vegetarian Restaurant

蓮華素食府 / Lian Hua Vegetarian Restaurant / 潮州

 

Chao Zhou Old City 潮州古城 series

0.5: In/Out ChaoZhou 出入潮州

01: Kai Yuan Temple 開元寺

02: Memorial Arch St 牌坊街

03: Jiadi Lane 甲地巷

04: Huang Ancestral Hall 已略黃公祠

05: Guangji Gate & Bridge 廣濟門.橋

06: CZ Embroidery-CZ Museum 潮繡-潮州博物館