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Jan 11, 2024 · Located at the north-west of the West Lake at Hangzhou, Lingyin Temple is one of the oldest and most significant ancient Buddhist temple of China. As the largest of several temples in Hangzhou's Wulin Mountains, with its the long history and charming scenery, Lingyin Temple attracts thousands of visitors and Buddhist faithful every day.
Lingyin Temple, founded in 326AD, is regarded as the most recognized temple in Hangzhou with a long history of about 1,700 years. Situated at the west end of the West Lake, the temple is nested between Feilai Mountain and Beigao Mountain.
Lingyin Temple, sitting at the foot of Mount Lingyin right next to West Lake, is not only the oldest temple in the city of Hangzhou, but also one of the ten most significant ancient temples of Zen Buddhism in China.
Lingyin Temple’s Grand Hall is located behind the Hall of Heavenly Kings and is the second hall of the Monastery. The structure is 33.6 meters in height, built on an area of 1,200 square meters--seven traditional sections wide, four sections deep.
From ancient halls such as the Grand Hall to newly-built halls such as the Medicine Buddha Hall, there are a variety of Buddhist halls in Lingyin Temple full of cultural heritage. The Sutra Pillars, nameda cultural legacy of the country, silently guard the history and tradition of Lingyin Temple.
The Dharma Hall, also called “Zhizhi Hall”, is the fourth hall of Lingyin Temple, located in the back of the Medicine Buddha Hall. Zhizhi Hall is the main place where Buddhist doctrines are expounded.
The Reception Hall of Lingyin Temple stands at the eastern side of the Hall of the Heavenly King s and the Grand Hall. The front of the Reception Hall hangs a plaque carved with two Chinese characters “Ke Tang”, meaning the Reception Hall.
Dining Hall. The Dining Hall of Lingyin Temple, namely “Da Liao”, is located on the right of the Hall of the Heavenly Kings and behind Shifang Yuan, the vegetarian restaurant. The Dining Hall, the living area of the temple, mainly consists of a dining hall and a kitchen, providing meals to Buddhist monks in the temple.
At the center of Ji Gong Hall stands a statue of Master Daoji, with his right hand holding a broken fan, his left hand carrying Buddhist prayer beads, and his right feet putting on a wine jar. The statue is made of bronze, with a height of 2.3 meters and a weight of 2.5 tons.
Fei Lai Feng Scenic Area 45rmb, Ling Yin Temple entry 30rmb, total 75rmb. Hours open to visitors: 7am-6pm daily
