Jing’an Temple in Shanghai

Why is Jing’an Temple so Special?

This temple has a history of over 780 years. Founded in the Three Kingdoms period (220-280), it is called Hu Du Chong Yuan Temple. During the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), it moved from the banks of the Wusong River to its present position and became a busy and crowded place only in 1908. The first tram was built at Jing’ an temple as its starting point. Later, a famous calligrapher renamed it Jing’ an temple in 1945 and it is still named after Jing’ an temple. Unfortunately, the temple was burned to ruins in 1972. However, reconstruction began in 1984, so the Temple of Heavenly King and the Three Sacred Temples were successively restored. In 1990, the entire temple was finally opened to the public.

Where is Jing’an Temple?

Located in Jing’ an district of Shanghai, its history can be traced back to the first ten years of sun Wu chiwu in the three kingdoms

Main Attraction of Jing’an Temple

There were eight scenes in the former Jing’ an temple, which was very popular. Most of them are extinct, but the temple in front of the temple (Yongquan) was excavated on May 5, 2009. Spring water gushes out day and night, so people call it “well cooked”. It is regarded as “the sixth spring in the world”. After reconstruction, Spring was relocated at the intersection of Huashan Road and Nanjing West Road, restoring its former charm.

The Jade Buddha statue has three halls here: the Raft Tuomona Hall, the Heavenly King Hall and the Three Treasures Hall. The largest pure jade portrait of Sakyamuni in mainland China is placed in the hall of Tuomona on a raft. Yufo is 3.78 meters high (about 12 feet), weighs 2.6 meters (about 9 feet) and weighs 11000 kilograms. It was too big. When it was moved into the hall, the wall was knocked down. The Buddha’s facial expression is kind and quiet, emitting evil and good luck.

Jing ‘an Temple is a good place to escape from the bustling crowd in the center of Shanghai. At the same time, you can also enjoy the painting and calligraphy of Yangzhou Eight Eccentrics in the cultural relics exhibition hall. An important exhibit in this temple is a bronze clock made in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The temple fair is held here once a year. In the eighth year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, the eighth day of the fourth lunar month was the first Buddha’s Birthday Festival. Villagers came here to sell handicrafts and agricultural and sideline products. The temple fair lasted for three days, and many people from far and near came to worship during the temple fair. Gradually, the commerce in this area became prosperous. Since then, temple fairs have become a tradition and are held on this day every year.

Best Time to Travel Jing’an Temple

The best travel time is spring and autumn, usually March-may and September-November.

Catkin, peach blossom and flying warbler are most suitable for outing in the suburbs in spring. Peach Blossoms in Nanhui, Cherry Blossoms in Gu Village Park and Tulips in Shanghai’s Fresh Flower Port are in full bloom. They are the best time to enjoy flowers. Autumn with red leaves all over the sky is the best time to taste hairy crabs. The so-called “autumn wind is ringing and crab legs itch”. At this time, hairy crabs have yellow legs, thick crab fat and beautiful crab meat, which make people drool.

How to Get There

  • By metro:
    Take Line 2 or Line 7 and get off at Jing’an Temple Station. Leave from Exit 1 to the temple directly.
  • By bus:
    1. Take bus 15, 20, 37, 40, 45, 57, 76, 93, 94, 113, 315, 321, 323, 327, 330, 824, 830, 838, or 927 and get off at Jing’an Temple Station.
    2. Take Pudong Airport Shuttle Bus Line 2 to get there directly.
    3. Take City Sightseeing Bus to get there.

Useful Travel Tips

Entrance Fee: CNY50 (Free on the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month except the first; CNY100 from the 1st to 15th days in the first lunar month); CNY 2 per small bunch of incense
Opening Hours: 07:30 -17:00 (04:30 to 17:00 during the incense period, which usually refers to the 1st and 15th days of each lunar month)
  • The rainy season is from mid-June to early July, with continuous rain.  From the end of August to the first half of September is the typhoon season, often with sudden storms, these two periods of travel to Shanghai must take umbrellas.
  • The entertainment life in Shanghai is quite rich. The modern facilities and natural scenery in major theme parks and parks make people feel relieved and happy.  Shanghai, as the birthplace of Chinese movies and the host of one of the world’s nine major film festivals, has many cinemas with state-of-the-art audio and video equipment, which can experience incomparable viewing effects.  If you are a fan and fan, then in Shanghai, a series of world-class art venues and theatres will definitely make you feel full of happiness.
  • You can buy a wide range of Shanghai specialties, snacks and handicrafts in Shanghai, such as spiced beans and pear paste candy from the Old City God Temple, which are generally available in local specialty stores and supermarkets.

Nearby Attractions

Recommended Shanghai Tour Packages

Edited by Doreen/张洋