Kaiyuan temple was first established in 738, in the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang dynasty with the original name of "Lifeng Temple". The name was changed to "Kaiyuan Wanshou Chan Temple" during the Yuan dynasty. And then it was renamed "Kaiyuan Zhenguo Chan Temple" in the Ming dynasty. During the Qing dynasty, people usually called it "Kaiyuan Temple" which is still use now. In 1950, monk Chunxin was proposed as the new abbot of the temple. Under his leadership, the temple was refurbished and redecorated. In 1962, Kaiyuan Temple was categorized as a provincial level key cultural heritage by the Guangdong Provincial Government. During the Cultural Revolution, the government forced monks to return to secular life and he died in countryside. After the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, according to the national policy of free religious belief, monk Huiyuan was unanimously chosen as abbot of the temple. He headed the reconstruction project. The reconstruction of the project lasted six years. In 1983, Kaiyuan Temple was classified as a National Key Buddhist Temple in Han Chinese Area. In 1991, monk Dingran was elected as abbot. During his term in the position, Thai Chinese Xie Huiru donated property to establish a Thailand style hall named "Taifo Hall". On June 25, 2001, Kaiyuan Temple was listed among the fifth group of "Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Guangdong" by the State Council of China.
The Babei Hall was built in 2005. The construction took five years, and lasted from 2000 to 2005. It is wide, high with a depth of. The hall covers a building area of and the total area of. Under the eaves is a plaque with the Chinese characters "Dabei Hall" written by Hong Kong sinologist Jao Tsung-I. A total of 86 statues of Guanyin are enshrined in the hall.
Taifo Hall
A bronze statue of Sakyamuni is enshrined in the Taifo Hall. It is high and weights. On the walls of the hall are painting with stories of Sakyamuni's becoming Buddha with the style of Thailand. The statue of Brahma, also known as "Four-faced Brahma", stands in the east side.
National treasures
Thousand Buddha Pagoda
The seven story, tall, hexagonal-based Chinese pagoda is made of wood in the Ming dynasty. The Eighteen Arhats and Twenty-four Gods and Kings are carved on the body of the pagoda.
Bronze bell
The bronze bell which is high and in circumference is the symbol of Kaiyuan Temple, weighs more than. It was cast in 1114 in the reign of Emperor Huizong of Northern Song dynasty.
Stone pillars
Kaiyuan Temple houses four stone pillars, they were made in the Tang dynasty. They are decorated with relief carvings of the Buddha, lotus petals, Hercules, Buddhist texts, and other designs.
Banisters
The banisters of the Mahavira Hall are carved with stories of Sakyamuni's becoming monk and other patterns, they were made in the Tang dynasty.
Xianglu
Kaiyuan Temple collected two Xianglu. One was cast by Korean monk in the Kaiyuan period of Tang dynasty. The other was cast in 1325 by Yuan dynasty politician Xu Zhenjin.
Yunban
The Yunban in 1346, during the 6th year of Zhizheng period of the Yuan dynasty.
Dragon-store
A set of Dragon-store which printed in the Qianlong era of the Qing dynasty are preserved in Kaiyuan Temple. The Buddhist scriptures only printed 100 copies at that time.
