An 800-year-old ancient Zen monastery hidden in a small ancient town

Jinxi Ancient Town, as a relatively lesser-known ancient town in Suzhou, has never had a large flow of visitors. However, this 800-year-old Lianchi Zen Monastery is still worth a visit. Just like its name, the monastery is actually surrounded by a large lotus pond, and I think it must be very beautiful when the lotus flowers bloom in summer. Inside the monastery, there are many details of Tang Dynasty architectural style, and there is a mural room where painting is currently underway, which I guess will be even more beautiful once completed. The monastery houses the magnificent Four Heavenly Kings and a tall golden Buddha statue. In addition, there is a Fan Deng bookstore and a vegetarian noodle restaurant.