Zhuzhu Temple, located in Dongcheng District of Beijing, is about 500 meters northeast of the Forbidden City’s corner tower and is co-announced with Songzhu Temple as a cultural heritage site in Beijing. Constructed in the 21st year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign (1756), it now serves as the location for Temple Restaurant Beijing, one of Beijing’s more ancient temples that was once used as a television factory.
Today, Zhuzhu Temple has been transformed into a restaurant, retaining its original appearance, with only a rusty ‘TRB’ sign on the outer wall giving this ancient temple a new identity. The faded walls and cracked pillars and beams are visible at the main entrance of the temple hall. The monks’ dormitories on the east side have been converted into a gallery, while the western side rooms have been transformed into hotel rooms. The temple now houses post-modern sculptures, and the red-walled hall leading to the restaurant from the front hall has been renovated into a bar and waiting area, creating a fusion of ancient and modern that gives visitors a sense of time travel. Opening times are from 11:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Thursday and Sunday throughout the year; from 11:00 to 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, with specific business status subject to the day’s opening conditions.
