Fayuan Temple in Beijing
Chinese Name: 北京法源寺
English Name: Fayuan Temple
Type: Temple, Chinese traditional culture & Buddhism culture
Best Time: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Hours: 1-3 hour
Opening Hours: All day
Ticket: 5 RMB
Location: In the south of Jiaozi Hutong, Xicheng District of Beijing
Why is Fayuan Temple so special?
It is not only an ancient temple with a long history in Beijing, but also the location of China Buddhist Academy and China Buddhist Library and Heritage Museum. It is an important place for training young monks and studying Buddhist culture.
History of Fayuan Temple
Fayuan Temple was originally built to mourn the dead soldiers by Emperor Taizong (598-649) of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). When finished in 696, However, due to flood, earthquake, war and other damages, the temple has been destroyed, rebuilt, and renamed several times. It was not until the Emperor Yongzheng’s throne in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) that it was greatly repaired and then renamed as Fayuan Temple, which has been retained to the present day. For more than a thousand years, the temple has witnessed the change of history.
Main Attractions of Fayuan Temple
Fayuan Temple is the existing largest temple in Beijing City, covering an area of over 8,000 square yards (6,700 square meters). Facing south, it is built in an axial symmetry pattern. There are six courtyards inside from south to north. The main buildings are all concentrated in the north-south axis line, successively the main gate, the Hall of Heavenly King, the Hall of the Great Buddha, the Hall to Mourn the Loyal, the Pilu Hall, the Great Mercy Hall, and the Pavilion of Buddhist Sutras.
How to Get There
- By Subway:
Take Subway Line 4 or Line 7 and get off at Caishikou Station. Get out from Exit D, and walk south along Caishikou Street. When reaching the intersection of Caishikou Street and West Nanheng Street, turn west to reach the temple. The walking distance is about 1,000 yards (900 meters). - By Bus:
1. Take bus no. 53, 133, or Special Line 13, and get off at Jiaozi Hutong Nankou Station. Then walk eastwards for about three minutes.
2. Take bus no. 83, 381, or Special Line 14, and get off at Nanhengjie Lukou Bei Station. Then walk southwards to the intersection of Caishikou Street and West Nanheng Street, and then turn west to reach the temple. The walking distance is about 500 yards (457m).
Nearby attractions
Beijing Museum of Natural History
There are four basic displays and a dinosaur world expo. The number of large-scale ancient mammal fossils in the museum ranks second in the world. Yellow River ancient elephant fossils and dinosaur fossils are well-known at home and abroad.
Madame Tussauds in Beijing
Madame Tussauds Beijing is the fourth Madame Tussauds wax museum in China. The first celebrities to enter the museum include Bruce Lee, Audrey Hepburn and Kobe Bryant.
