Jiangsu, part 2: Linggu Temple

When we arrived in Nanjing, I wanted to go to Linggu Temple. We just missed a bus heading that direction. Since time was tight, we took a taxi instead.

Through crazy city traffic, out into the forest. The road went up and back down and around curves back and forth.



Welcome to Zhongshan Mountain Scenic Area. Big park. Redundant name. ("Shan" means "mountain.")

The first cab dropped us off at Sun's Masoleum, a mile from Linggu. A second cab got us where we were going.

At the entrance to the temple complex, a monk rode by on a motorcycle. Under his robes, he was wearing jeans.

We walked through the forest (a nice change of pace from the big cities), up steps, and through gates -- one of them functional (payment required for entrance).







The reason I picked this temple of all the sites in Nanjing to visit was for its Beamless Hall. Unusual for China, it was built with brick barrel vaults during a timber shortage. It's now a memorial for soldiers killed in the 1920s unification of China (the Northern Expedition).





Rather reminiscent of Roman architecture, but not that old.



While Chunlin and I explored separately, I came across a little gift shop in the back corridor.



I decided to purchase a green-bean ice cream for Chunlin, since she likes those. The seller was very surprised by all my old pennies and jiao that I had brought from home. At least I think she was amazed by the 1980s era coinage. My Mandarin is good enough to buy a popsicle, but not that good. Chunlin appreciated the ice pop. Tired, relaxed, happy. The Beamless Hall was a cool place to rest on a hot day.



More photos on flickr, of course.