Shanghai Donglin Temple is located at No. 150 Donglin Street, Zhujing Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai. It is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and one of the most famous Buddhist temples in East China. Founded in 1308 (the first year of the Zhida reign of the Yuan Dynasty), it was originally named Guanyin Hall and later renamed Donglin Chan Temple after expansion, boasting a history of more than 700 years. The temple covers a total area of about 12,000 square meters, with a construction area of over 8,000 square meters. Its architecture integrates traditional Chinese Buddhist temple style and modern construction techniques, retaining the profound Zen charm of the ancient temple while presenting unique architectural wonders. Featuring "wonder, uniqueness and grandeur", the temple is home to several Buddhist architectures certified by Guinness World Records. It is a comprehensive scenic spot integrating religious culture, architectural art and sightseeing, as well as an important religious and cultural landmark in Shanghai.
History and Culture
Shanghai Donglin Temple originated from Guanyin Hall built by monk Miaoyin in 1308. In 1313 (the second year of the Huangqing reign of the Yuan Dynasty), it was renamed Donglin Chan Temple, meaning "among the forests by the East China Sea". During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the temple was expanded and renovated many times, becoming a large-scale Buddhist temple in the Jiangnan region. In its prime, it had hundreds of buildings, over a hundred monks, and attracted worshippers from Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai.
In modern times, Donglin Temple was damaged due to wars and other factors, with some buildings destroyed. In 2004, Jinshan District launched the restoration and expansion project of Donglin Temple. Based on preserving the original historical relics, it was reconstructed under the principle of "restoring the old as before and integrating ancient and modern". After years of construction, the core buildings of the ancient temple were restored, and a series of landscapes with modern Buddhist cultural characteristics were added, making Donglin Temple once again an important Buddhist cultural center in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta.
Donglin Temple mainly inherits the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism, with characteristics of the Chan Sect. Various Buddhist activities are held in the temple all year round, such as New Year bell-ringing, Qingming Prayer, and Mid-Autumn Festival Dharma Services. It is not only a pilgrimage site for Buddhist believers but also an important window displaying traditional Chinese Buddhist culture.
Main Scenic Spots
Five Buddha Crown
The Five Buddha Crown is one of the landmark buildings of Donglin Temple. With a height of 21 meters, it is the tallest Buddhist statue crown in the world and certified by Guinness World Records. Its shape is derived from the crowns of the Five Directional Buddhas in Buddhism. Made of cast copper with gold paste, it is exquisitely carved, integrating traditional Buddhist statue art and modern engineering technology. Standing in the core area of the temple, it has become the most recognizable landscape of Donglin Temple.
Thousand-Buddha Gate
The Thousand-Buddha Gate is about 20 meters high and over 10 meters wide. The gate is mainly carved from thousand-year-old camphor wood, inlaid with 999 small Buddha statues of different poses. Together with the main Buddha in the middle of the lintel, there are 1,000 Buddha statues in total, hence the name "Thousand-Buddha Gate". Each Buddha statue is hand-carved by inheritors of intangible cultural heritage with vivid expressions. It is a masterpiece of wood carving art in Donglin Temple and reflects the Buddhist cultural connotation of "blessing by a thousand Buddhas".
Yuantong Treasure Hall
Yuantong Treasure Hall is the core religious building of Donglin Temple, a double-eave hip-and-gable building in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with a construction area of about 600 square meters. The hall enshrines a 6.8-meter-high sitting statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, cast in brass and covered with gold paste, surrounded by 32 manifestation statues. It is the main venue for daily Buddhist activities in the temple and the core area for tourists to worship and pray for blessings. The beams, brackets and other components of the hall retain traditional woodworking techniques, with colorful painted decorations, showing the artistic characteristics of Jiangnan temple architecture.
Golden Lotus Pond
Golden Lotus Pond is located on the south side of the central axis of Donglin Temple, covering an area of about 300 square meters. In the center of the pond stands a 5-meter-high statue of "Guanyin Emerging from Water", carved from white marble. Guanyin Bodhisattva stands on a lotus throne with an elegant shape. Nine-grade lotus flowers are planted in the pond, with clear water and white marble railings around it. The overall landscape creates a Zen atmosphere of "Guanyin manifestation and auspicious lotus blooming", making it a highly ornamental waterscape in the temple.
Tour Route
The recommended tour route centers on the central axis of the temple. After entering from the scenic spot entrance, first visit the Thousand-Buddha Gate to appreciate the exquisite wood carving of a thousand Buddhas, then walk to the Golden Lotus Pond to view the statue of Guanyin Emerging from Water and the lotus flowers in the pond. Then walk north along the central axis to the core area of Yuantong Treasure Hall to feel the solemn atmosphere of the Buddhist hall and worship the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva. After that, go to the Five Buddha Crown scenic area on the north side of the temple to closely view this Guinness World Record building, and you can also climb the viewing platform to overlook the whole temple. Finally, visit the Buddhist culture exhibition area on the east side of the temple to learn about the historical evolution and Buddhist cultural inheritance of Donglin Temple. The whole tour takes about 1.5–2 hours, and you can adjust the staying time at each scenic spot according to your own interests.
Tips for Visiting
- The best visiting time is spring and autumn (March–May, September–November), when the climate is pleasant, lotus flowers bloom in the Golden Lotus Pond, and the vegetation around the temple is lush, providing the best viewing experience.
- The recommended visiting duration is about 2 hours. If you want to deeply experience Buddhist culture, you can join the free guided tours at 9:00 and 14:00 every day.
- Donglin Temple regularly holds Buddhist cultural activities, such as prayer services on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month, and bell-ringing prayer activities during the Spring Festival. You can check the activity time in advance to combine the activities with your visit.
- There is a vegetarian restaurant in the scenic spot providing traditional Jiangnan vegetarian food. The dining time is 10:30–14:00.
- It is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes, as there are many steps and stone roads in the temple for easy visiting.
Notes
- Please keep quiet when entering the temple area, respect Buddhist customs, and do not make loud noises or chase and play.
- Photography and videography are prohibited in religious halls such as Yuantong Treasure Hall. Smoking and eating are not allowed in the halls.
- Incense burning is only allowed in designated areas of the temple. Bringing outside incense is prohibited. The temple provides free eco-friendly incense, 3 sticks per person.
- Take good care of the cultural relics and buildings in the scenic spot. Do not touch or carve Buddha statues and various carved artworks.
- Feeding fish and other aquatic organisms in the pond is prohibited to keep the waterscapes such as the Golden Lotus Pond clean.
- Minors must be accompanied by adults to visit. Elderly, weak, sick, disabled and pregnant tourists can apply for convenient services from the scenic spot staff.
Transportation
- Public transport: Take Shanghai Metro Line 1 to Lianhua Road Station, transfer to Lianzhu Special Line (Lianhua Road Metro Station – Zhujing Bus Station), then walk about 10 minutes (800 meters) to Donglin Temple. Or take the Jinshan Railway to Jinshan North Station, transfer to Jinzhangwei Branch Line to Zhujing Station, then walk 5 minutes to reach.
- Self-driving: Depart from downtown Shanghai, take the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway (G60) to the Zhujing exit, drive east along Tingfeng Highway for about 2 kilometers, then turn into Donglin Street. There is a special parking lot in the scenic spot.
- Bus lines: In Jinshan District, take Zhujing Bus No.1, No.3 or No.5 to Donglin Temple Station and get off, directly reaching the scenic spot entrance.
Opening Hours
Daily opening hours are 8:00–17:00 (last entry at 16:30). Opening hours remain unchanged during legal holidays such as Spring Festival, New Year's Day, Labor Day and National Day. The entry time may be temporarily adjusted during some Buddhist activities, which will be announced in advance through official channels.
Admission
Ticket: 30 yuan per person. You can search the official WeChat account "上海东林寺" for the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.