Mountainous getaway offers array of attractions

Guoqing temple is home to China's first indigenous branch of Buddhism: The Tiantai school of Buddhism.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Taizhou, in the southern province of Zhejiang, is an ideal mountain getaway for anyone looking to escape the modern world.

Known as a key manufacturing base, Taizhou is also home to beautiful mountains and Buddhist destinations, some of which are expected to be declared top scenic spots by the National Tourism Administration in the near future.

Guoqing temple, tucked away in Tiantai Mountain, about two hours' drive from Hangzhou, the capital city of Zhejiang, is home to China's first indigenous branch of Buddhism: The Tiantai school of Buddhism.

First built in 598 during the Sui Dynasty (581-605 AD), the temple was renovated as a royal temple during the reign of the Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

The gate of the temple, which can accommodate only two people at a time, opens up to some 23,000 square meters inside that include 14 grand halls of different sizes.

This is the place where Ji Gong, a famous philanthropic Buddhist monk of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), first converted to Buddhism.

It is the first destination recorded in the epic travel diaries by Xu Xiake, a Chinese travel writer and geographer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Li Bai, the genius poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907), also mentions the temple in one of his poems.