The temple of Guantao — one of the attractions of the city, is among the oldest temples of this province. Has long been a place of Buddhist pilgrimage.

The construction of the temple was completed over 1500 years ago, however, some information indicates that the temple Guantao was among China's first Buddhist temples and the date of its Foundation is much closer to the IV century BC. Thus, according to this theory, the temple was founded long before Guangzhou. In the era of the Han dynasty, the temple served as the residence for Namestovo king and the Governor of Guangdong.

The temple is a complex of several pavilions that are built in the same traditional ancient Chinese style building is decorated with numerous carved wooden items.

The temple has gained prominence in the seventh century, when sheltered monk Hoi Nana, a former sixth Patriarch of CH'an Buddhist school. The hair of a monk were cut off after his death and buried under one of the trees Bodhi, what is meant by highest honor. At this place today – pagoda, dedicated to buried hair monk (Yifat), and inside are kept the statues of the Buddha, resting gracefully in the deep recesses.

It is known that in the seventeenth century was a fire that destroyed all of the then existing buildings. Those that you see today were rebuilt, and guests of the city and modern Chinese can only guess, as before the temple looked like.

The total area is about 31 000 sq m and it includes, besides the main gate, the pagoda of Yifat, palaces Dunbogan and Heavenly King. All together it forms a complete architectural ensemble.

In addition, the temple Guantao you can see the huge Buddha statue with the two oldest (now extant) iron pagodas. They rise in the East and West sides of the architectural structure.