Cantonese folk wisdom says: '未有羊城，先有光孝' — 'Before there was Guangzhou, there was Guangxiao'. The temple's roots trace to a 3rd-century BCE Nanyue royal residence, converted to a Buddhist monastery in 397 CE — making it ~600 years older than Liurong Temple nearby. Its claim to fame: in 676 CE, the wandering monk Hui Neng was tonsured here under the bodhi tree planted by Tripitaka, becoming the Sixth Patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. The Main Hall (大雄宝殿) is a 9th-century structure rebuilt in 1696, with mortise-and-tenon timber and a copper roof. Highlights: the dual stone pagodas of east and west iron pagodas (Tang Dynasty, 9-10th century — the oldest iron pagodas in China still intact); the bodhi tree (a descendant of the original); the Hui Neng hair-burial pagoda (where his shaved hair was reportedly preserved); and the Liu-zu Hall (六祖殿) dedicated to the Sixth Patriarch. ¥5 entry, open daily 6:00-17:00. Closed during Buddhist festivals (lunar 1st/15th). Closest Metro: Ximenkou (Line 1, Exit A), 5-min walk. Combine with Liurong Temple (5-min walk).

Address

109 Guangxiao Rd, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou

越秀区光孝路109号

Highlights

Hui Neng's Ordination TreeThe bodhi tree where the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism was tonsured in 676 CE
Twin Iron Pagodas (东西铁塔)9-10th century Tang Dynasty pagodas — oldest surviving iron pagodas in China
Main Hall (大雄宝殿)9th-century original timber structure, rebuilt 1696; mortise-and-tenon construction
Liu-zu Hall (六祖殿)Dedicated to Hui Neng; pilgrimage site for Chan/Zen Buddhists from across Asia
'Before Guangzhou, Guangxiao'Cantonese folk saying about the temple's age — older than the city itself