The European tourist sees the temples and monasteries of China more as historical museums with collections of ancient artifacts that tell the myths and legends of the past. Bright, colorful, unusual pagodas, proudly towering over small modern buildings, are visible from anywhere in the city and are the center of attraction for millions of curious viewers every year. And the older the temple is considered, the brighter it looks today, lavishly decorated with sacred relics and fresh flowers. To appreciate all the luxury of temple architecture in China, to find out what gods the great emperors worshipped and what modern locals believe in, you need to go to one of the oldest temples in the country – the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.

It was built in 537 on the territory of the largest Chinese city of Guangzhou and is the tallest ancient structure in the city that has survived to this day. The height of its main pagoda is about 60 meters, and the top platform offers a fantastic view of the whole of Guangzhou. At first glance, it seems that the tower has only 9 tiers, but when you go up the internal staircase, you will be surprised to find 17 levels, each of which impresses with its interior decoration.

The main hall is called Daxiong Baodian Hall, which means "Treasury of Great Heroes". There are three huge copper Buddha statues weighing up to 10 tons. These are the oldest statues of the province, which symbolize the past, present, and future. In other halls, you can find a laughing or gilded Buddha and many other images of the Enlightened One, as well as a statue of the general who returned the stolen treasures to the Buddha, according to Buddhist mythology.

There are other pagodas on the territory of the monastery, in one of which there is a statue of the goddess of mercy and compassion Guanyin – the patroness of the female part of the house and family – that is especially revered in modern China.

The incredibly beautiful Temple of the Six Banyan Trees is one of the most visited places in the city, especially many pilgrims from all over the world gather at its walls on New Year's Eve and for the Lantern Festival.