Tayuan Temple in Mount Wutai

Tayuan Temple in Mount Wutai

Attractions Overview: One of the five famous temples for practicing Zen, and also one of the ten famous temples for accommodating monks in Mount Wutai.
Attraction Type: Temple, Architecture
Chinese Name:五台山塔院寺
English Name: Tayuan Temple in Mount Wutai
Best Time to Visit: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Time: About 2 hours
Open Hours: 06:30~18:30
Admission Fee: 10 RMB / Person
Address in English: Mount Wutai Scenic Area, Xinzhou City, Shanxi province, China
Address in Chinese:山西省忻州市五台山风景区

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Why is Tayuan Temple in Mount Wutai is so special?

Tayuan Temple (塔院寺) is located in the central area of Taihuai town in Mount Wutai, Shanxi Province, China. Tayuan Temple was originally a stupa of Xiantong Temple. The stupa, named the Great White Pagoda, was constructed in the 6th year of DaDe reign of the Yuan dynasty (1302 AD).  Tayuan Temple was originally a pagoda yard of the Xiantong Temple which had been separated to an independent temple in the Ming Dynasty.

Where is Tayuan Temple?

Address in English: Mount Wutai Scenic Area, Xinzhou City, Shanxi province, China
Address in Chinese:山西省忻州市五台山风景区

Taiyuan temple is about  209 km from Taiyuan (太原), the capital of Shanxi province, and about 143 km from Xinzhou (忻州). 

How to get There?

Travel with China Dragon Tours (top recommended)

If you want to get rid of hustle of transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Tayuan Temple with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on travel.

Independent Travel

For Independent travelers you can

It takes about 2 hours and a half for drive from Xinzhou city to Tayuan Temple, and about 3 hours from Taiyuan city to Tayuan Temple.

Main Attractions of Tayuan Temple

Sakyamuni stupa 释迦牟尼舍利塔

The stupa is the main building of Tayuan Temple. With square base and Tibetan style, the stupa is quiet eye catching. Its total height is about 60 meters. People regard it as the symbol of Wutai Mountain. The Tayuan Temple is now a key monastery in China.

Manjuist Hair Pagoda 文殊发塔

According to legend, the hair of Manjusri Bodhisattva is hidden in it. There is a Buddha’s footstone in the cave at the bottom of the Stupa. The footprints on the stone tablets are 1.6 feet long and 6 inches wide. 

Nearby Attractions

Useful Travel Tips

Before visit a Buddhist temple,  it would be better for you to do some research about Buddhism, and Chinese architecture, so that you can get a better travel experience in Nanchan Temple. What’s more, it’s necessary for you to know some Buddhist taboos and customs before your tour. Our top recommended is travel with a local tourist.