Mixed Altar at Fozu Temple, Shenzhen, Guangdong

This altar is in from transition from Taoist (道教的) to Buddhist, with three Buddha (佛) statues sitting front of a Taoist figure, at Fozu Temple (佛祖寺), Shenzhen, Guangdong (广东, 深圳市)

Thousand-Armed Guanyin, Kaiyuan Temple, Chaozhou, Guangdong

This Thousand-Armed Guanyin (千手观音) at Kaiyuan Temple (开元寺), Chaozhou, Guangdong (广东, 潮州市), is the centerpiece of a hall filled with Guanyin (观音) images.

Black Hall, Lingshan Temple, Shantou, Guangdong

An unusual, newly-built Black Hall (黑殿) at Lingshan Temple (灵山寺), Shantou, Guangdong (广东, 汕头市).

Three Sages of the West, Nanshan Temple, Zhangzhou, Fujian

These Three Sages of the West (西方三圣) at Nanshan Temple (南山寺), Zhangzhou, Fujian (福建, 漳州市), appear to be sandstone, an unusual material.

Spirit Door, Longshan Temple, Jinjiang, Fujian

This Spirit Door at Longshan Temple (龙山寺), Jinjiang, Fujian (福建, 晋江市), hints at the current building's Taoist (道教的) origins.

Renshou Pagoda, Kaiyuan Temple, Quanzhou, Fujian

The Renshou Pagoda (仁寿塔) at Kaiyuan Temple (开元寺), Quanzhou, Fujian (福建, 泉州市), is one of two pagodas on the grounds, built in the 13th century.

Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen, Fujian

Nanputuo Temple (南普陀寺), Xiamen, Fujian (福建, 厦门市) marches majestically up the Wulao Peaks (五老峰). It dates to the Tang Dynasty (唐朝).

Great Buddha, Lingshan, Wuxi, Jiangsu

The Great Buddha (大佛) at Lingshan (灵山), Wuxi, Jiangsu (江苏, 无锡市), stands 88 meters high, and was built in 1996. (Those are people on the stairs!)

The Abbot of Kaiyuan Temple, Wuxi, Jiangsu

Neng Chao (能超法师), the Abbot (方丈) of Kaiyuan Temple (开元寺), Wuxi, Jiangsu (江苏, 无锡市), is here preparing for his investiture. As his former teacher (in a temple in Yangzhou 扬州市) I was invited to speak at the ceremony.

Interior of Practice Hall, Shaolin Temple, Dengfeng, Henan

The interior of the practice hall (万福殿), the rear-most hall at Shaolin Temple (少林寺), in Dengfeng, Henan (河南, 登封市), has dents in the floor allegedly made by years of Shaolin stomping.

Guandi Statue, Guanlin, Luoyang, Henan

This statue of Guandi (关帝) (also called Guanyu 关羽) is at Guanlin (关林), a temple in Luoyang, Henan (河南, 洛阳市), where his head is allegedly entombed.

Bronze Buddha and Attendants, Xiangshan Temple, Luoyang, Henan

This Bronze Buddha (佛) and Attendants are at Xiangshan Temple (香山寺), Luoyang, Henan (河南, 洛阳市), near the Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟).

Vairocana at Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Henan

Colossal Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛) at Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟) in Luoyang, Henan (河南, 洛阳市). It's said that this is the face of Wu Zetian (武则天), the empress who paid for much of the carving.

Yongning Temple Pagoda Remains, Luoyang, Henan

The pyramid-like mound is all that remains of Yongning Temple Pagoda (永宁寺塔) in Luoyang, Henan (河南, 洛阳市). It was once perhaps 147 meters (nearly 500 feet) tall, which would have made it then the world's tallest building. It burned in 534--for three months!

Qiyun Pagoda, Luoyang, Henan

The Qiyun Pagoda (齐云塔) in Luoyang, Hebei (河南, 洛阳市), has a long and fascinating history, and in its way contributed to the founding of Wutaishan (五台山). Its compound is attached to Baima Temple (白马寺).

White Horse, Baima Temple, Luoyang, Henan

This White Horse in front of Baima Temple (白马寺) in Luoyang, Henan (河南, 洛阳市), represents one of those who gave the temple its name: "Baima" is Chinese for "White Horse."

Laughing Buddha, Nan Shaolin Temple, Putian, Fujian

This Laughing Buddha (弥勒佛) sits in the Heavenly Kings' Hall (天王殿) at Nan Shaolin Temple (南少林寺), Putian, Fujian (福建, 莆田市).

Wisdom King, Guangxiao Temple, Putian, Fujian

One of the fierce Wisdom Kings (明王) in a rear hall at Guangxiao Temple (光孝寺), Putian, Fujian (福建, 莆田市). These esoteric (密宗) figures are especially popular in Japanese temples.

Buddhas, Guanghua Temple, Putian, Fujian

These small Buddhas (佛) are on the side of a small pagoda (塔) at Guanghua Temple (广化寺), Putian, Fujian (福建, 莆田市).

New Hall, Nangshan Cishou Temple, Putian, Fujian

This new hall (殿) at Nangshan Cishou Temple (囊山慈寿寺) in Putian, Fujian (福建, 莆田市), shows a very high standard of workmanship. Note the open doorways, where the doors haven't yet been installed.

Seven Pagodas, Wanfu Temple, Fuqing, Fujian

The seven pagodas (塔) are at the south end of the compound at Wanfu Temple (万福寺) in tropical Fuqing, Fujian (福建, 福清市).

Guanyin, Yongquan Temple, Fuzhou, Fujian

This Guanyin (观音) stands behind the Abbot's (方丈) Reception Room at Yongquan Temple (涌泉寺), Fuzhou, Fujian (福建, 福州市).

Monastic Friends, Xiangshan Temple, Fu'an, Fujian

These two good friends are the nun (尼姑) Yixiang (义香), and my friend the monk (和尚) Deru (德如), at Yixiang's temple called Xiangshan Temple (香山寺) on Tianma Mountain (天马山), Fu'an, Fujian (福建, 福安市).

Jade Buddha, Tiantang Temple, Fu'an, Fujian

The Jade Buddha (玉佛) in a spectacular setting on the main altar at Tiantang Temple (天堂寺) on Tianma Mountain (天马山), Fu'an, Fujian (福建, 福安市).

Main Hall, Qiyun Temple, Fu'an, Fujian

The Main Hall (大雄宝殿) at Qiyun Temple (栖云寺), Fu'an, Fujian (福建, 福安市), where my friend Venerable Deru (德如) lives. He drove me to the temple on Zhiti Mountain (支提山) and to all the temples I saw in Fu'an.

Main Hall, Zhongde Temple, Fu'an, Fujian

The Main Hall (大雄宝殿) of Zhongde Temple (种德寺), which my friend Venerable Deru (德如) says is the largest Buddhist temple of the many in Fu'an, Fujian (福建, 福安市).

Bamboo Forest, Shuiyun Temple, Ningde, Fujian

The bamboo forest (竹林) behind tiny Shuiyun Temple (水云寺) at the foot of Zhiti Mountain (支提山) in Ningde, Fujian (福建, 宁德市).

"Soul Cow," Zhiti Huayan Temple, Ningde, Fujian

The "Soul Cow" (灵牛) at Zhiti Huayan Temple (支提华严寺) in Ningde, Fujian (福建, 宁德市). It's said that the cow went down on its knees whenever anyone said "Namo Amitofo" (南无阿弥陀佛) (the name of Amitabha Buddha) to it. It had been saved from butchering and brought to the temple for refuge--and this was only in the 1980s!

Vairocana Buddha, Xichan Temple, Fuzhou, Fujian

A statue of Vairocana Buddha (毗卢遮那佛) at Xichan Temple (西禅寺), Fuzhou, Fujian (福建, 福州市).

Form of Guanyin, Linyang Temple, Fuzhou, Fujian

One of many statues showing the forms of Guanyin (观音) in a rear hall at Linyang Temple (林阳寺), Fuzhou, Fujian (福建, 福州市).

Compound Gate, Xuefeng Chongsheng Temple, Fuzhou, Fujian

Gate to a small compound outside of Xuefeng Chongsheng Temple (雪峰崇圣寺), in the mountains above Fuzhou, Fujian (福建, 福州市).