Kaiyuan Temple

Kaiyuan Temple is the largest and most important Buddhist temple in Quanzhou, a city that was once one of the world's great maritime trading ports. The temple's two stone pagodas — the Zhenguo and Renshou towers — dominate the skyline and are among the finest surviving pagodas in China.

The temple complex blends Buddhist devotion with Quanzhou's cosmopolitan maritime past: its halls contain carvings and motifs influenced by the Indian, Persian and Southeast Asian cultures that once passed through the port. The sprawling main hall, supported by massive stone columns, is a masterpiece of Song-dynasty architecture.

It is a working temple as well as a historic site, and the surrounding streets of Quanzhou's old town — a UNESCO World Heritage site — are rich with food, arcaded shop-houses and quieter temples.

The temple is in Quanzhou's old town and is easily reached on foot from most central areas, or by the city's public buses. Quanzhou has a high-speed rail station with connections to Xiamen and Fuzhou, and the temple is a short taxi ride from the station. The surrounding streets are best explored on foot.

Enter the temple and admire the twin pagodas from the courtyard before visiting the main hall with its Song-dynasty carvings. Then walk the arcaded streets of West Street, sampling Quanzhou snacks, and continue to the nearby Qingjing Mosque and the Maritime Museum to round out the city's seafaring history.

Stay in the old town near West Street for the most atmospheric base, surrounded by arcaded shop-houses and food stalls. Quanzhou is compact and walkable, so a central hotel works well. For a quieter stay, the area near the city's other temples and parks is pleasant.

• Entry is free; it is an active temple, so dress modestly.
• Look for the Indian and Persian influences in the carvings.
• Pair the temple with a food walk along West Street.
• Visit the nearby Qingjing Mosque and Maritime Museum.
• Quanzhou is compact — explore the old town on foot.