Jing’an Temple is located in the Jing’an District of Shanghai, with a history that can be traced back to the Three Kingdoms Period over 780 years ago. It has a fantastic location and a metro station of the same name is just meters away. With its long history, amazing architecture, and convenient location, it’s on my list of must-visit places in Shanghai.
The temple features teak structure, copper tile roof, a total of 7 layers, 32.22 meters high. Shanghai Jing’an Temple has some very special characteristics which follow architecture traditions of the time including the use of decorated eaves and brackets with the combination of Buddhist characteristics including elephants, lotus and other distinctive patterns of Buddhist decoration.Imported teak is used for the main structure of the temple, yellow and dark gray glazed tiles and copper tile roof, the main accessories (ridge, tower, etc.) are decorated in gold. The layout is along the traditional Chinese architectural style, door, hall, corridor combination.
Jing’an Temple also features two-story suspended bell, with a height of 3.3 meters, a width of 2.1 meters, weighing 7.3 tons and made of bronze. It also features an underground spring which is apparently 156 m deep!
Jing’an Temple also houses a statue of the goddess Guanyin. Staggeringly, the statue is carved from camphor and stands at 6.2 m high and weighs 5 tons.
Be sure to see the Jade Buddha which is a 3.8 m high carving of a sitting Buddha and the main hall hosts the main attraction, the 15 ton Silver Buddha.
Nearby to the temple there are luxury shopping malls, luxury hotels and park.
Ticket Cost
CNY30, free on incense days (the 1st and 15th days of every lunar month)
Opening time: 07:30 am – 5:00 pm and 04:30 am – 5:00pm during the temple fair
Getting There
Metro
Take Metro Line 2 or Line 7 to Jing’an Temple Station.
Address
Jing’an Temple – 静安寺 – 1686 Nanjing West Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai.
Official Website: http://www.shjas.org
Hotels Near Jing’an Temple
See here for a hand-picked list of hotels near the temple