Jing’an Temple is located in the bustling Jing’an commercial district of Shanghai, with convenient transportation access. Surrounded by high-rise buildings, it stands in stark contrast to the serene temple. The temple’s architectural style integrates Tibetan temple elements, with the Silver Buddha in the Mahavira Hall weighing a massive 15 tons, and the Jade Buddha in the Moni Hall being significantly larger than the one in Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple.
Before entering the temple gate, one can see the high column ‘Zhengfa Jiu Zhu Fan Chuang’ in front of the temple, with the four large characters ‘Zhengfa Jiu Zhu’ engraved on the front and Su Shi’s handwritten ‘Diamond Sutra’ on the back. The top features a gilded four-faced lion statue, modeled after the Ashoka Pillar in Sarnath, northern India.Upon entering the temple gate, one finds a large square with a 15-ton white copper incense burner in the center. Unlike other temples where main halls are aligned along the central axis, Jing’an Temple’s halls dedicated to Bodhisattvas and monks’ practice rooms are connected, surrounding the square in a two-story layout. Visitors typically start by walking around the square to view the first floor, then proceed to the second floor. On the right side of the first floor is the Guanyin Hall, housing a 6.2-meter-tall thousand-year camphor wood Guanyin statue. On the left is the Moni Hall, housing a 3.87-meter-tall Shakyamuni Jade Buddha, which is much larger than the ‘treasure of the temple’ in Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple, and had to have the temple walls dismantled to be brought inside.
In the northwest corner of the first floor lies the Jing’an Pagoda, with a large and four smaller Tibetan-style four-sided pagoda decorations on top. The pagoda enshrines 868 Buddha statues and many esoteric treasures, although it is generally not open to the public and can only be admired from the outside. Originally a part of the Han Chinese’s Xuan Zong, under the leadership of Abbot Chisong, the temple gradually leaned towards Tibetan Buddhism’s esoteric sect, which is evident in its architectural style, a harmonious blend of Han and Tibetan elements, especially noticeable in the Jing’an Pagoda and the columns outside the temple inscribed with ‘Zhengfa Jiu Zhu’.
Opening hours: Open all year round from 07:30 to 17:00.
Must-see tips: 1. Jing’an Temple has a prosperous incense. On the birthdays and anniversaries of various bodhisattvas, the temple will hold activities. There are also Buddhist activities such as lectures by eminent monks at ordinary times. The specific activities and times will be posted on the bulletin board next to the temple gate. 2. There is a vegetarian restaurant next to Jing’an Pagoda. Both vegetarian assorted noodles and double mushroom noodles are good. 3. There is a place to pick up incense on the right side after entering the main gate of Jing’an Temple. Pick it up by yourself. The incense fee is 5 yuan. You can also give it as you wish.
