Xuanmiao Temple: Suzhou's Old Centerpiece

Xuanmiao Temple's San Qing Hall seen from the side.

The temple's main paifang or
decorative gate.

The Taoist Xuanmiao Temple（xuanmiao guan; 玄妙館）—"Mysterious Sublimity Temple" or "Mysterious Essence Temple"—dominates the center of Suzhou. Even so, it was not on my class' itinerary! Had I not decided to explore the city center with some classmates, I would have never visited this charming temple. 

Located on Guanqian Street（觀前街）, a famous pedestrian lane, Xuanmiao Temple's bright gold paint and predominant gate are difficult to miss. Initially built in 276 AD and named Zhen Qing Dao Yuan（真慶道院）, the temple was destroyed during the Song Dynasty, and then rebuilt and renamed in 1264. It was damaged yet again in the 18th century and repaired in 1775. 

玄妙館: 蘇州的老核心

玄妙館的三清殿。 

大牌坊

三清殿西侧鸱吻 

我跟中文課的蘇州旅行日程不包括玄妙館，但是我們休息的時間很多。我跟一些同學一起去了觀前街逛街，然後我們找到玄妙館。哪天我們很幸運因為只有一個鐘頭才關門。遊客很少，所以我們的參觀是和平的。

在我的看法，“和平”是玄妙館的主題。那個金紅的配色方案給我舒服的感覺。再說，是很安靜的地方，可以逃逸又擠又吵的觀前街。