Hanshan Temple
The Buddhist Hanshan Temple in Suzhou is not only a charming historic temple, but a place of deep cultural resonance for people not only in China, but throughout Asia and especially in Japan.  The temple is located on the edge of the modern city center, alongside the ancient Grand Canal and several ancient bridges which cross it.  The temple was founded over 1,500 years ago, but owes it fame to a a poem.

Lingshan Great Buddha
One of the most awe-inspiring sights in Jiangsu is the Great Buddha at Lingshan, along the shores of Lake Taihu in Wuxi.  The largest statue of the Buddha anywhere in the world, this bronze colossus stands 88 meters tall; its lotus flower pedestal brings the entire structure to over 100 meters. 

Jin Shan Temple (Gold Mountain Temple)
Perhaps Zhenjiang's oldest and most famous sight, the Jin Shan Temple (Gold Mountain Temple) has become a symbol of the city.  The temple is visible from far away - it climbs up the sides of a hill along the flat flood plains of the Yangzi, and its pagoda dramatically crowns the crest of the hill.  The temple first achieved prominence in the Tang dynasty, and has been rebuilt and expanded many times since.

Daming Si
Daming Si (Great Brightness Temple) is one of the most historic Buddhist temples in Jiangsu.  It occupies a commanding position atop a hill overlooking Yangzhou and the Shou Xi Hu Garden.  The temple was founded over 1,400 years ago, and has been rebuilt, expanded, and renamed many times since.

Tianning Temple (Heavenly Calm Temple)
One of the largest Buddhist temples in eastern China, the Tianning Temple is just a few blocks from Changzhou's downtown.  It's also nearby from the city's main historic parks and a historic pagoda.  The temple was founded almost 1,300 years ago, and as grown bigger and bigger over the centuries.

Lang Shan
One of Nantong's main attractions is the Langshan Scenic Area (15 RMB), a short way outside the city near the Yangzi River.  Langshan is actually a group of five hills which rise dramatically from the otherwise flat plains along the lower Yangzi River.  Small trails and flights of stairs wend though the forested slopes, connecting the Buddhist temples that dot the hills. The Langshan area has been associated with Buddhism since the Tang dynasty, when monks first began building on the hills to keep their temples safe from periodic floods.

Zijin Nunnery (The Purple Gold Nunnery)
Buddist faith in China has traditionally been expressed through statues of the Buddha and his saints and sages, and the Zijin Nunnery in Dongshan near Suzhou is home to a collection of some of the finest ancient examples of this art.  In its ancient halls are a set of statues of Buddhist sages, dating from the Southern Song Dynasty, over 900 years ago. 

Mao shan
Although there are scores of Buddhist temples in China, visiting a major Daoist (Taoist) shrine is a rarer opportunity.  Maoshan, outside the city of Zhenjiang, is one of the oldest Daoist mountain temples, with a history stretching back over 1,700 years.  The temples hug the sides and crown of a small mountain rising from the tea plantations and rolling hills of southern Jiangsu.