Lingyin Temple, also known as ‘Yunlin Temple’, is located at the foot of Lingyin Mountain on the west side of West Lake. The temple is set in a serene environment and is one of the earliest famous temples in Hangzhou, preserving numerous exquisite cultural relics from various dynasties. It is the place where Ji Gong, a well-known monk, took refuge and is reputed to be a very effective place for praying and making wishes, attracting a continuous stream of worshippers.
After 1700 years of history, Lingyin Temple has become a treasure trove of history and culture: the plaque ‘Yunlin Zen Temple’ hanging on the Tian Wang Hall was inscribed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty; the stone pagoda in front of the Mahavira Hall and the stone sutra pillar in front of the Tian Wang Hall are relics from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of the Wu Yue Kingdom; the temple houses precious Buddhist cultural relics such as ancient palm-leaf scriptures, Eastern Wei gilded Buddha statues, Dong Qichang’s handwritten ‘Diamond Sutra’ from the Ming Dynasty, and the Qing Yongzheng wooden carving dragon collection.
Lingyin Temple is also the temple where ‘Ji Gong’, the monk Dao Ji, took refuge. In the Dao Ji Chan Master Hall, there is a statue of Ji Gong with a broken fan in his right hand, prayer beads in his left hand, and his right foot resting on a wine vat. The temple is backed by the North Peak and faces the Fei Lai Peak. Although Fei Lai Peak is not very high, it has many fantastic and varied caves and is home to more than 340 Buddhist grotto statues since the Five Dynasties, making it a rare treasure of ancient grotto art in southern China.
The temple is always bustling with incense, especially on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month or during major Buddhist festivals, when believers from all directions gather in large numbers. The temple is open all year round from 06:30 to 18:00. On the basis of the above opening hours, during national holidays, the scenic area will open half an hour earlier and close half an hour later.
Policies for children: aged 6 (inclusive) or under, or with a height of 1.2 meters (inclusive) or less, free of charge. Policies for teenagers: aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive) or with a height between 1.2 meters (exclusive) and 1.5 meters (inclusive), half price. Policies for the elderly: aged 60 (inclusive) to 69 (inclusive) with ID, half price; aged 70 (inclusive) and above with ID, free of charge. Policies for students: full-time undergraduate and below students in colleges and universities within China (with a student ID purchased on-site at the scenic area), half price. Policies for active-duty military personnel: with valid ID, free of charge. Policies for people with disabilities: with valid ID, free of charge.
Lingyin Temple
Lingyin Temple, also known as ‘Yunlin Temple’, is located at the foot of Lingyin Mountai[...]
