Even locals don't know that Suzhou has its own Xiaoxitian.

In China, besides Xixian County in Linfen, Shanxi, there are similar scenic spots in other provinces and regions. In Suzhou, there is such a place that 99% of locals don't know about! There are no tourists! Curious friends may ask, where is Suzhou's Xiaoxitian? What secrets does it hold? With these questions in mind, let's talk about Mingyue Temple. Mingyue Temple was built in the second year of the Later Tang Dynasty (935 AD) by Monk Mingzhi. It was merged with Puxian Temple in the early Ming Dynasty. In 1890, Monk Daogen rebuilt it. It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and restored in 1993. There used to be a large pear forest near Mingyue Temple. Every early spring, the pear blossoms became a beautiful sight in the ancient town. Li Guo of the Qing Dynasty wrote a poem about it, which became popular. The architecture of Mingyue Temple is unique, with the layout of the Mahavira Hall and Sutra Library similar to Lingyan Mountain Temple nearby.