Wenshu Temple and Grounds, Chengdu, China

My first day in Chengdu, China, I went with a friend of mine to explore the Wenshu Temple and surrounding grounds and gardens. It was a little haven of peace and quiet in the middle of a city of 11 million people. The photos above and below are both of the outer wall along the city street.


This burnt offering pot is what greets you when you first walk in the gate. There's a small complex of temples to ancestors and paths unfold from there through the gardens to other small pagodas, a tea garden, and a vegetarian restaurant as well.




Here was our little table in the tea garden. There were a lot of retired people sitting playing Mah-Jong as well. You order your tea at a window, and they give you cups with the tea leaves in them, and then an old man walks around with a pot of hot water constantly refilling your cup. He did this literally after almost every other sip, at least until we made a gesture of "thanks, that's enough." Good service!


This was just a series of wall corners along the path through the gardens. I think circles are a sign of good luck in Chinese traditional culture.





This was a view of a new construction project just outside of the temple grounds. I thought it was a good example of the contrast of old and new. I also liked the colors of the writing on the building, which I assume is advertising.


The paths of the gardens wrap around to bring you back to the main entrance and its group of buildings. Here's another gate structure with the circle for good luck.