Longxing Temple is located in Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province. It is one of the larger and relatively well-preserved Buddhist temples in China. Currently, it is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a key national cultural relics protection unit. The scenic area is renowned for its profound historical and cultural heritage, unique architectural style, and rich collection of Buddhist art treasures, and is known as "the first ancient temple south of Beijing".
Longxing Temple covers an area of approximately 82,500 square meters. The buildings within the temple are arranged in a rigorous layout with a magnificent momentum, preserving numerous architectural remains from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Among them, the Song Dynasty buildings occupy an important position in the temple, reflecting the superb craftsmanship and unique style of Song Dynasty architecture, and serving as important physical materials for studying the history of ancient Chinese architecture. The temple not only has tall and majestic halls but also exquisite sculptures, murals, and other works of art, integrating the cultural elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and possessing extremely high historical, artistic, and scientific values.
History and Culture
The history of Longxing Temple can be traced back to the 6th year of Kaihuang in the Sui Dynasty (586 AD), initially named "Longzang Temple". At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, it was renamed "Longxing Temple". In the 4th year of Kaibao in the Song Dynasty (971 AD), Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, ordered its expansion and cast the famous bronze statue of Avalokitesvara with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes in the temple. Since then, the scale of the temple has continued to expand, gradually becoming an important Buddhist temple in northern China.
Throughout history, Longxing Temple has undergone numerous renovations and reconstructions. The Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties all carried out renovations to varying degrees on the temple, enabling it to retain its original architectural style while incorporating the architectural characteristics of each dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, the temple was renamed "Longxing Temple" and has been used ever since.
Longxing Temple is not only a place for Buddhist activities but also has close ties with ancient Chinese politics and culture. Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin, once visited the temple, and many subsequent emperors also bestowed rewards and support on the temple, making Longxing Temple enjoy a lofty status in history. The "Longzang Temple Stele" preserved in the temple is an important calligraphic stele of the Sui Dynasty. The inscriptions were written by the Sui Dynasty calligrapher Zhang Gongli, with elegant and dignified fonts, being a treasure of Chinese calligraphy art and of great significance for studying Sui Dynasty calligraphy.
Main Attractions
Heavenly King Hall
The Heavenly King Hall is the main entrance hall of Longxing Temple. It was first built in the Song Dynasty, and the existing building was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. Enshrined in the hall are the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings: the Eastern Heavenly King holding the country, the Southern Heavenly King of growth, the Western Heavenly King with wide eyes, and the Northern Heavenly King of many hearings. The statues of the Four Heavenly Kings are majestic in shape, with different expressions, about 4.5 meters high, reflecting the exquisite level of Ming Dynasty sculpture art. There are also a sitting statue of Maitreya Buddha and a standing statue of Skanda in the hall. Maitreya Buddha has a cheerful smile, while Skanda is heroic, guarding the peace of the temple.
Moni Hall
Moni Hall is one of the iconic buildings of Longxing Temple. It was built in the 4th year of Huangyou in the Northern Song Dynasty (1052 AD) and is the only existing Song Dynasty building with a cross-shaped plane in China. The layout of the hall is unique, consisting of a central hall and four surrounding porches. The roof is a double-eaved gable and hip roof covered with glazed tiles, with a magnificent momentum. Enshrined in the hall are statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, his two disciples Ananda and Kasyapa, as well as Bodhisattvas Manjusri and Samantabhadra, with exquisite sculpting techniques. The four walls of the hall also preserve murals from the Ming Dynasty, depicting Buddhist stories and figures, with bright colors and smooth lines, possessing high artistic value. Moni Hall is known as "a masterpiece of Song Dynasty architecture" for its unique architectural structure and exquisite interior decoration.
Precept Platform
The Precept Platform is located to the north of Moni Hall and is a place where monks receive precepts. It was built in the Ming Dynasty. The Precept Platform is an octagonal building, 17 meters high, divided into three layers, each with exquisite railings and carvings. Enshrined in the platform is a bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha cast in the Ming Dynasty, 3.4 meters high, with a serene expression and exquisite craftsmanship. The architectural style of the Precept Platform is unique, reflecting the characteristics of Ming Dynasty architecture, and is one of the relatively well-preserved Ming Dynasty precept platforms in China.
Revolving Sutra Cabinet Pavilion
The Revolving Sutra Cabinet Pavilion was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty and is a building specially constructed to store the revolving sutra cabinet. The revolving sutra cabinet is a wooden rotating sutra storage rack with a diameter of about 7 meters and a height of 10 meters. It adopts a central column structure, with an ingenious design and flexible rotation, and is the earliest and largest existing revolving sutra cabinet in China. The wooden structure inside the pavilion uses various complex mortise and tenon connections, reflecting the superb architectural technology of the Song Dynasty.
Cishi Pavilion
Cishi Pavilion stands opposite the Revolving Sutra Cabinet Pavilion and was also built during the Northern Song Dynasty. Enshrined in the pavilion is a 7.4-meter-high standing statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva, a wooden carving work of the Song Dynasty, with smooth lines and a solemn expression. The architectural style of Cishi Pavilion is similar to that of the Revolving Sutra Cabinet Pavilion, both being two-story pavilion-style buildings with an ingenious internal structure, possessing important architectural research value.
Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Pavilion (Great Compassion Pavilion)
The Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Pavilion, also known as the Great Compassion Pavilion, is the main building of Longxing Temple. It was built in the 4th year of Kaibao in the Northern Song Dynasty (971 AD), and the existing building was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. The pavilion is 33 meters high with three floors, showing a majestic momentum. Enshrined in the pavilion is a 21.3-meter-high bronze statue of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Bodhisattva, which is the largest existing bronze Guanyin statue in China. The bronze statue has exquisite casting craftsmanship, with a kind face of Guanyin Bodhisattva and a unique shape of a thousand hands and a thousand eyes, reflecting the superb casting technology of the Song Dynasty. The Great Compassion Pavilion is surrounded by corridors, which preserve murals and steles from the Song Dynasty, with high artistic value.
Longzang Temple Stele
The Longzang Temple Stele is located in Longxing Temple and was engraved in the 6th year of Kaihuang in the Sui Dynasty (586 AD). It is the earliest existing stele in Longxing Temple. The stele is 2.6 meters high and 1.3 meters wide. The inscriptions record the construction process and historical evolution of Longxing Temple and were written by the famous calligrapher Zhang Gongli of that time. The calligraphy of the inscriptions combines the characteristics of clerical script and regular script, with elegant and dignified fonts and smooth brushwork. It is a representative work of the important transitional period from clerical script to regular script in the history of Chinese calligraphy, known as "the first stele of the Sui Dynasty", and has extremely high calligraphic artistic value and historical document value.
Delicacies
Zhengding Majia Chicken
Zhengding Majia Chicken is a traditional famous food in Zhengding County with a history of more than 100 years. It uses high-quality free-range local chickens as raw materials, and is braised with various spices and unique production techniques. The characteristics of Majia Chicken are golden color, tender meat, tender but not scattered, rich fragrance, and fatty but not greasy. Authentic Majia Chicken can be tasted in many restaurants and snack bars around Longxing Temple, and it is one of the delicacies not to be missed when traveling to Zhengding.
Zhengding Benggan (Shredded Dried Pork Liver)
Zhengding Benggan is a special snack in Zhengding with a long history. It uses pork liver as raw material and is made through multiple processes such as cleaning, shredding, pickling, drying, and steaming. The finished Benggan has a ruddy color, chewy texture, salty and delicious taste, with a unique flavor. It can be bought in the vegetable markets and snack stalls near Longxing Temple, and is a favorite side dish with wine and a side dish for local residents.
Zhengding Eight Great Bowls
Zhengding Eight Great Bowls is a traditional banquet dish in Zhengding area, consisting of eight stewed dishes, including four meat dishes and four vegetarian dishes. The meat dishes usually include braised chicken, braised fish, braised pork, braised meatballs, etc., while the vegetarian dishes include braised tofu, braised vermicelli, braised cabbage, braised kelp, etc. The production of the Eight Great Bowls pays attention to heat and seasoning. The dishes have a rich taste and are nutritious, reflecting the characteristics of northern cuisine. Authentic Zhengding Eight Great Bowls can be tasted in some time-honored restaurants around Longxing Temple, which is suitable for dining with many people.
Tickets
As of August 11, 2025, the ticket price is 50 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "正定县隆兴寺景区" on WeChat to get the latest updates; you can search for the official service account "正定隆兴寺景区" on WeChat to buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. In summer (April 1 - October 31), the opening hours are 8:00 - 18:00, and entry is stopped at 17:30; in winter (November 1 - March 31 of the following year), the opening hours are 8:30 - 17:00, and entry is stopped at 16:30. The scenic area will appropriately adjust the opening hours according to the number of tourists on legal holidays. It is recommended that tourists check the latest opening hours through official channels before traveling to avoid affecting their itinerary.
Tour Route
After entering Longxing Temple, tourists can visit according to the following route: first enter from the main gate, visit the Heavenly King Hall, and enjoy the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings, Maitreya Buddha, and Skanda; then go north to Moni Hall to experience its unique cross-shaped architectural structure and appreciate the Buddha statues and murals in the hall; after leaving Moni Hall, go west to the Revolving Sutra Cabinet Pavilion to visit the earliest and largest existing revolving sutra cabinet in China; then go east to Cishi Pavilion to admire the Song Dynasty wooden carving statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva; then go north to the Precept Platform to learn about the place where monks receive precepts and the Ming Dynasty bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha; continue north to the core building of the scenic area, the Great Compassion Pavilion, to watch the huge bronze statue of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin at close range; finally, stroll around the temple to find other historical relics and landscapes such as the Longzang Temple Stele. This route is about 2-3 kilometers in total, and the recommended visiting time is 3-4 hours, which can fully appreciate the main attractions and historical culture of Longxing Temple.
Transportation
- Public transportation: Take Metro Line 1 from downtown Shijiazhuang to "Zhengding Ancient City" Station, then transfer to Zhengding County buses No. 137, No. 143, etc., and get off at "Longxing Temple" Station. There are also long-distance buses from downtown Shijiazhuang to Zhengding County. After getting off at Zhengding Bus Station, you can take a taxi or bus to Longxing Temple, and the taxi fare is about 10 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Shijiazhuang, drive north along Tiyu North Street, enter Zhengding County after passing Zilong Bridge, and follow the navigation instructions to Longxing Temple. There is a parking lot in the scenic area, and the parking fee is 5 yuan per hour.
- Taxi/online car-hailing: Taking a taxi from downtown Shijiazhuang to Longxing Temple, the whole journey is about 30 kilometers, and the fare is about 60-80 yuan; taking a taxi to Longxing Temple within Zhengding County, the fare generally ranges from 5-15 yuan depending on the departure location.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Moni Hall: The only existing cross-shaped Song Dynasty building in China, with exquisite Buddha statues and Ming Dynasty murals inside. Its unique architectural structure makes it an outstanding representative of Song Dynasty architecture and not to be missed.
- Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Pavilion (Great Compassion Pavilion): It houses the 21.3-meter-high largest existing bronze statue of the Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin in China, with a majestic momentum and exquisite casting craftsmanship, being a landmark attraction of Longxing Temple.
- Revolving Sutra Cabinet Pavilion: It stores the earliest and largest existing wooden revolving sutra cabinet in China, with a diameter of about 7 meters and a height of 10 meters. Its ingenious design reflects the superb architectural technology of the Song Dynasty.
- Longzang Temple Stele: An important calligraphic stele of the Sui Dynasty, known as "the first stele of the Sui Dynasty". The calligraphy of the inscriptions has extremely high value and is an important material for studying the history of Chinese calligraphy.
Travel Suggestions
- Recommended visiting time: There are many attractions in Longxing Temple with rich historical culture. It is recommended to arrange 3-4 hours for visiting to fully appreciate the characteristics of each attraction.
- Best visiting season: Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Longxing Temple. At this time, the weather is pleasant, the temperature is moderate, suitable for outdoor activities, and the temple is rich in vegetation, with beautiful scenery in spring and autumn.
- Hiring a tour guide: There are professional tour guides in the scenic area providing explanation services, with a fee of about 50-100 yuan per time. Hiring a tour guide can help you gain a deeper understanding of the historical culture of Longxing Temple and the background stories of each attraction, enhancing the visiting experience. You can also rent an electronic guide, with a fee of about 30 yuan per unit.
- Combining with surrounding attractions: Zhengding County also has other historical attractions such as Zhengding Ancient City Wall, Kaiyuan Temple, and Linji Temple. Tourists can arrange to visit Longxing Temple together with these attractions to experience the profound historical and cultural heritage of Zhengding.
Notes
- The temple is a Buddhist site. Visitors should abide by relevant regulations, keep quiet, respect religious beliefs and customs, not touch cultural relics such as Buddha statues and murals at will, and not make loud noises or chase and frolic in the temple.
- Take good care of cultural relics and the environment. Do not spit, litter, or damage buildings, vegetation, and other facilities in the scenic area.
- Visitors must consciously accept security checks when entering the scenic area. Flammable, explosive, dangerous goods, etc., are prohibited from entering the scenic area.
- Some buildings in the scenic area have a long history, and the ground may be slippery. Please pay attention to safety during the tour, especially on rainy days and in winter.
- Please abide by the scenic area regulations when taking photos. Photography or the use of flash may be prohibited in some attractions, and you should follow the instructions of the staff.
- There are catering and rest facilities in the scenic area, which visitors can use as needed. However, the prices are relatively high, and visitors can also bring an appropriate amount of food and water by themselves.