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Linggu Temple (6th century site, 19th-20th century buildings)

Founded in the Liang dynasty (502-557), Linggu temple was once a sprawling monastic complex where Buddhist monks studied in seclusion. Unfortunately, most of the temple was destroyed in the 19th century Taiping rebellion--a small loss in a conflict that claimed over 30 million lives. Among the temple's interesting features is a vaulted hall built in 1831, commonly called the "beamless hall" because, unlike most Chinese buildings, it is built entirely of masonry. Originally a shine to the Amitabha Buddha, it was converted in 1928 into a shrine for the 33,000 soldiers killed in Chiang Kai-Shek's "northern expedition" to reunify the country.

Linggu pagoda is another notable structure. Built in 1928, it also commemorates the soldiers killed in the national revolution. It is a reinforced concrete and wood structure nine stories tall. Tourists can climb to the top on a spiral staircase.