Temple of Bright Filial Piety

The Temple of Bright Filial Piety, also known as Guangxiao Temple, is one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Guangzhou with a history spanning over 1,700 years. Originally built during the Three Kingdoms period, this temple served as the residence of Yu Fan, a famous scholar of the Eastern Han Dynasty, before being converted into a Buddhist monastery. The temple complex features exquisite traditional Lingnan architectural style with its distinctive curved roofs, intricate wood carvings, and beautiful courtyards. Throughout its long history, it has been a center for Buddhist learning and practice, attracting numerous eminent monks including the famous Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, who was ordained here. The temple grounds house several important cultural relics including ancient pagodas, stone inscriptions, and the famous Hair Burying Pagoda. Today, it remains an active place of worship while also serving as a major cultural attraction that beautifully preserves Guangzhou's rich Buddhist heritage and architectural traditions.