One of the places we visited is a Buddhist temple also known as Six Banyan Temple, named after the six Banyan trees that used to grow in the temple courtyard. Fodor's guidebook on China says that this temple was founded in the 5th century, but after a series of fires (oops), most buildings date from the 11th century. Still pretty neat to see these buildings that are about 1000 years old!

One of the most impressive feature of the temple is its 184 foot tall pagoda, which appears to have 9 stories when viewed from the outside, but actually has 17 levels on the inside.

This isn't a Swastika - it's an ancient Buddhist symbol.

When you enter the temple grounds, you see loads of people (tourists, but mainly the Chinese locals who come to worship at the temple).

Woman holding burning incense in the air while praying.

At this incense burner, smoke would come out of the dragon heads. People would scoop the smoke onto themselves.

This is another traditional style of incense burner. The base is filled with incense ashes & embers. Sticks of lit incense are placed upright in the base, then allowed to burn. See the woman (surgical mask & straw hat) to the right of the picture? She's got a job to do.

She and another woman remove (excess) burning incense from the burner, plunk it in a bucket of water (stained red with use), then throw the incense into the large blue trash can. I guess this helps keep the line moving and prevents massive fires (re: "oops", above).

Big building! Note the clouds of incense smoke to the left of this picture.

Two of the three Buddhas, representing Past, Present, and Future. Fodor's says that these statues were cast of bronze back in 1663, and weigh 5 tons each.

Closeup of an incense burner "foot."

A lamp styled after a lotus blossom. Pretty colors!

The real thing.

People kept saying how beautiful Zoe is. Who are we to argue?

Say no more!

Doorway to ???

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Jeff Johnson
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