Step into the incense-laden halls of this monastery and temple, home to two historic statues of Buddha carved from pure white Burmese jade.

Jade Buddha Temple in western Shanghai is one of the city’s most important working temples and spiritual communities. It is famous for the two large statues of Buddha caved from delicate white jade that are found within its halls. Visit this atmospheric complex to witness traditional prayers and chants, and to admire historic artefacts of great importance to the local culture.

The temple was first built in the 1880s to house two statues of Buddha brought back by the monk Huigen following his pilgrimage to Tibet and Burma. This original temple was tragically destroyed during the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty, but the statues remained unharmed, and a new temple was erected in 1928.

Seven halls and a tower make up this walled temple complex. Despite its 20th-century construction, the temple is modelled on traditional Song Dynasty architectural design, dating back to between 960 and 1279.

Step into the Jade Buddha Tower to admire the Sitting Buddha, the larger of the two jade statues. Carved out of a single piece of this precious stone, it reaches almost two metres high. The beauty of the white jade is set off by the many emeralds and agates set onto the surface of the figure, said to represent Buddha reaching enlightenment through meditation. This tower also houses a collection of 7,000 Dazang sutras, or scriptures.

The second statue is to be found in the Recumbent Buddha Hall. You’ll see a figure of Buddha reclining on a mahogany bed, in the position known as the “lucky repose”. The serene expression on the statue’s face depicts Buddha’s peaceful mood as he left this world to enter Nirvana. Opposite this piece, you’ll find a larger Recumbent Buddha which was donated to the temple in 1988 by the Singapore Buddhist Friendship Association.

The Jade Buddha Temple is open every day, and a small visitor admission fee is payable. Please remember that photography is prohibited within the temple walls. The closest metro station is Changshou Lu.

Plan a trip to see Jade Buddha Temple

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Ketangjian Apartment Hotel

Puxi

NZ$1,678

per person

14 Sept - 21 Sept

found 18 hours ago

Return direct flight included

Auckland (AKL) to Shanghai (PVG)

8.4/10 Very good! (35 reviews)

When I came to check in, the front staff was very friendly and helped me accordingly. The only problem was that check in is at 2pm, I came in at 2pm, did the whole check in process which took about 10-15 minutes and then I was told I had to wait about 30 minutes to get my room because the room wasn’t clean yet. I didn’t have much of a problem since I was able to wait in the lobby. But check in is promoted online at 2pm. I booked this hotel/room mainly for the washer/dryer in the room, but beware as it’s not an all in one with the dryer, we had to go to another floor to dry (if we were lucky), we’d either have to wait a while or hang our clothes in the room to air dry. The room is also operated by your hotel key card, it’s summer so after you come back from your day adventure, the room is all hot and not comfortable. The room we stayed in, the shower hose wouldn’t stay on good and slump down, so we would have to be close to the wall to get some water on our bodies. But the best thing about the hotel is the staff! They’re very friendly and helpful.

Reviewed on 2 June 2026