Hanshan Temple and the Maple Bridge

Hanshan Temple (寒山寺) is a compact Buddhist temple on the old canal west of Suzhou's walled city, at 16 Fengqiao Road. It is famous for one poem: Zhang Ji's "Night Mooring at Maple Bridge", whose last line, about the midnight bell of Hanshan Temple reaching a traveller's boat, almost every Chinese reader knows by heart. Entry is 20 yuan. From April to December it opens 07:30 to 19:00, with last entry at 18:30, and from January to March 07:30 to 17:30. Children up to 1.4 m and visitors aged 65 and over go free. Bus 9002 stops at the temple, and the nearest metro station, Xihuan Road on Line 1, is 1.7 km away. Allow one to two hours with the Maple Bridge.

For how it fits a Suzhou trip, see the Suzhou travel guide.

The poem

月落乌啼霜满天，江枫渔火对愁眠。 姑苏城外寒山寺，夜半钟声到客船。

The moon sets, a crow caws, frost fills the sky; river maples and fishing lights face my troubled sleep. Beyond the walls of Gusu, from Hanshan Temple, the midnight bell reaches the traveller's boat.

Zhang Ji wrote it in the mid-eighth century, moored on the canal here. The temple is older: it was founded in the Tianjian reign of the Liang dynasty (502 to 519) as the Miaoli Puming Pagoda Courtyard. It later took the name of Hanshan, the Tang monk-poet who, with his companion Shide, is said to have lived here. The two are revered in Chinese folk religion as the "twin immortals of harmony", patrons of happy marriages and friendships.

Knowing the poem is half the pleasure of coming. Without it, this is a pleasant, small temple. With it, the bridge, the canal and the bell all fall into place.

A route through the temple

The main gate faces west, towards the canal. Enter and leave on that side.

1. The yellow spirit wall outside the gate, with the temple's name in big characters, is the classic photo.
2. The Hall of Heavenly Kings and the Mahavira Hall. The main hall holds eighteen gilded iron arhats of the Ming, brought from Mount Wutai, and stone portraits of Hanshan and Shide carved after drawings by the Qing painter Luo Pin.
3. The stele corridor. The poem carved again and again in different calligraphers' hands across the centuries. Even if you don't read Chinese, it's interesting to compare the styles.
4. The bell tower. The Tang bell of the poem is long gone, but visitors can strike the bell here. Expect a queue, and there may be a charge.
5. The Hanshan and Shide hall, where couples and friends come to pray for harmony.
6. The Puming Pagoda, a modern five-storey pagoda with 108 wind chimes hanging from its eaves and a koi pond in front.

Just outside the main temple is the Hanshan Bell Garden (寒山钟苑), with a huge hardwood bell tower holding a bronze bell that weighs 108 tons. On New Year's Eve the temple rings a bell 108 times at midnight, a ceremony that draws big crowds and needs separate arrangements.

The temple's vegetarian noodle shop, left of the entrance, serves a bowl for 15 yuan. Avoid noon, when queues are longest.

The Maple Bridge

The single-arched stone bridge over the canal just outside the temple is the 枫桥 (Fengqiao) of the poem. Around it, the Maple Bridge scenic area has the old Tieling Pass watchtower, canal-side lanes and small exhibitions. It is managed separately from the temple and sold in combined tickets on some platforms. Check what's included before paying for a combined ticket. The bridge itself and the canal view are what most people come for.

Late afternoon is the nicest time on the canal, with low light on the water and boats passing. Check the temple's closing time before lingering, though, if you haven't been inside yet.

Getting there and pairing

• Bus: 9002 to Hanshan Temple (寒山寺) station, then a three-minute walk.
• Metro: Line 1 to Xihuan Road, then about 1.7 km. A shared bike is quickest.
• Taxi: about 15 to 20 minutes from the old city, depending on traffic.

On a Suzhou trip it pairs with Tiger Hill in the morning and lunch on Shantang Street, then the temple and bridge in the afternoon. It doesn't go with the Humble Administrator's Garden and Pingjiang Road, which are on the far east side of the old city. For the evening, Jinji Lake is a complete contrast.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Hanshan Temple?

20 yuan for adults in 2026. Children up to 1.4 m and visitors aged 65 and over enter free.

Can you ring the bell at Hanshan Temple?

Yes. Visitors can strike the bell in the bell tower, though there may be a charge and a queue. The famous New Year's Eve ringing of 108 strokes is a special event.

Is Hanshan Temple worth visiting?

If you know or want to know the poem, yes, and it pairs well with Tiger Hill. Otherwise it is a small temple and can be skipped on a short trip.

What is the best time to visit Hanshan Temple?

Late afternoon, for the light on the canal at the Maple Bridge. From April to December it's open until 19:00.