Lingyin Temple Tours and Activities

Lingyin Temple showing a garden, religious aspects and a temple or place of worship
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Hundreds of giant statues, beautiful halls and good spiritual energy are contained within this ancient shrine, one of China’s most extravagant temples.

Lingyin Temple is commonly considered one of the 10 most famous Buddhist temples in all of China.

Monk Hui Li founded Lingyin Temple during the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the year A.D. 326. Inspired by the spiritual energy of the surroundings, Hui Li decided to build a place of worship. The temple’s name, Lingyin, translates to “Soul’s Retreat”. Many visitors note that the spiritual energy that inspired Hui Li so many years ago can still be felt today. At its grandest, the temple complex was made up of 72 different palaces and halls and was home to 3,000 monks. Although the temple is smaller today, there is still plenty to see.

Prior to going into the temple, stop at Feilai Feng or Flying Peak. The peak is situated in front of the temple’s entrance and is decorated with hundreds of Buddhist statues carved right into the mountainside. The name Flying Peak comes from a legend that says the peak was originally located in India, but flew to Hangzhou overnight.

Trek up to the Hall of the Heavenly Kings where you can admire the large and colourful statues of the four kings. Be sure to see the main statue of Maitreya Buddha.

Pass through a courtyard to the Grand Hall of the Great Sage. This majestic building has a 33.6-metre (110 foot) high ceiling. Inside the hall is a statue of Shakayumani. This statue, which was carved from camphor in the year 1953, is said to be the largest wooden Buddhist statue in all of China.

Keep walking up the hill, through the Hall of the Medicine Buddha and past the Sutra Library, which is not open for worship. In Huyan Hall, you will encounter the three sages, who are from the important Buddhist text the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Conclude your visit in the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats. The term arhat refers to someone who has attained nirvana. The hall’s floor plan is the shape of a Buddhist swastika and the circumference of this unique room is lined with 500 larger-than-life bronze statues of arhats. It is an incredible display.

Lingying Temple is open every day, but visitors must pay a fee to enter. To get to the temple, take one of the two bus lines from Hangzhou’s main station to the Lingyin stop.

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