The two stone towers at Kaiyuan Temple. [Photo provided to enquanzhou.com]

Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou is the largest Buddhist temple in Fujian province. It was originally built in 686 AD during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). After rounds of repairs and restorations, now most of the buildings on the site date back to the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

The landmark attractions at the temple include two stone towers – Zhenguo Tower and Renshou Tower – that stand respectively on the eastern and western sides of  Daxiong Palace.

Kaiyuan Temple is one of those places which best exemplify the essence of Buddhist culture. Due to its unique architectural style and historical value, it is one of the must-visit attractions in Quanzhou and Fujian province.