Wenshufang is located on Wenshu Courtyard Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, in the downtown area of Chengdu. It integrates historical culture, religious experience, folk customs, and leisure shopping. Centered on the thousand-year-old ancient temple Wenshu Courtyard, the scenic area is built around the three themes of "Zen culture, folk culture, and Western Sichuan residential culture", creating a cultural experience destination that combines traditional charm with modern vitality. The total area of the scenic area is about 333,300 square meters, of which the core tourist area covers about 100,000 square meters and the construction area is about 150,000 square meters, including various formats such as Ming and Qing style Western Sichuan residential buildings, antique commercial blocks, and cultural exhibition venues. The architectural style is mainly characterized by Western Sichuan dwellings, integrating traditional elements such as gray tiles and white walls, wooden bucket structures, and carved window lattice, forming a well-proportioned and antique spatial pattern. As one of the well-preserved historical and cultural blocks in downtown Chengdu, Wenshufang not only retains the market vitality of old Chengdu but also gathers various intangible cultural heritage (ICH) cultural and creative products, characteristic delicacies, and folk performances, receiving more than 5 million tourists annually. It is an important window to display Chengdu's historical context and folk customs.
History and Culture
The historical roots of Wenshufang can be traced back to the Sui Dynasty. Its core landmark, Wenshu Courtyard, was first built during the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty (581-600 AD), initially named "Xinxiang Temple", with a history of more than 1,400 years to date. In the Tang Dynasty, Xinxiang Temple was already a famous Buddhist temple in Chengdu with a prosperous incense; it was expanded several times in the Song Dynasty, gradually increasing in scale; at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the temple was severely damaged in wars.
In the 36th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1697 AD), the eminent monk Cidu Haiyue presided over the reconstruction of the temple. It was renamed "Wenshu Courtyard" because it was said that the bronze statue of Manjushri Bodhisattva enshrined in the temple was extremely efficacious, attracting a large number of believers. Over the next hundreds of years, Wenshu Courtyard underwent multiple renovations and gradually formed its current architectural pattern. It has become an important sacred place of Buddhist Zen in Sichuan, and is known as one of the "Three Great Buddhist Temples in Chengdu" together with Baoguang Temple and Zhaojue Temple.
The surrounding blocks developed around Wenshu Courtyard have been a prosperous commercial area and a gathering place for folk culture in the northern part of Chengdu since the Qing Dynasty, gathering various handcraft workshops, teahouses, restaurants, temple fairs and markets, and carrying the living memories of old Chengdu.
Major Attractions
Wenshu Courtyard
Wenshu Courtyard is one of the key national Buddhist temples designated by the State Council, covering an area of about 13,333 square meters (more than 20 mu). Facing south with its back to the north, the temple has a construction area of about 11,600 square meters. The main buildings include the Heavenly King Hall, the Hall of the Three Great Bodhisattvas, the Mahavira Hall, the Dharma Lecture Hall, and the Scripture Collection Building. These five halls are connected and arranged in sequence on the central axis facing the mountain gate. Each hall and pavilion is simple, grand and spacious with upturned eaves and angled corners, typical of the ancient architectural style of the Western Sichuan Plain. The temple also houses more than 9,000 pieces of various cultural relics, including over 500 pieces of ancient and modern calligraphy and paintings dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties.
Wenshufang Block
Built in the antique style of Western Sichuan dwellings, the block is paved with bluestone slabs, lined with shops on both sides, and gathers more than 30 national and provincial intangible cultural heritage (ICH) exhibition and experience shops, such as Shu embroidery, Shu brocade, bamboo weaving, sugar painting, paper cutting, silver filigree, and lacquerware. The block also has an ICH Cultural Exhibition Center, which systematically introduces the historical origin and inheritance status of Sichuan's intangible cultural heritage through physical displays, multimedia demonstrations and other methods.
Miao Theater
Located in the East District of Wenshufang, Miao Theater covers a construction area of 8,000 square meters and can accommodate 800 spectators at the same time. Its appearance design cleverly integrates Chengdu elements such as the Shu Road, bamboo sea, and ladder stone stacks, presenting an architectural appearance full of "Guochao" (Chinese fashion) charm. The theater is only one street away from the Zen forest, making visitors feel as if they are in a dreamlike realm blending ancient and modern times.
Travel Route
Visit Wenshu Courtyard to experience Buddhist culture, then stroll around Wenshufang Block to feel the intangible cultural heritage culture and taste some local snacks. If time permits, you can go to Miao Theater to watch drama performances (tickets are required).
Travel Suggestions
- The best seasons to visit are spring and autumn. In spring (March-April), the block is in full bloom with flowers and the climate is pleasant; in autumn (October-November), the ancient ginkgo trees in Wenshu Courtyard are golden and brilliant, making it perfect for taking photos.
- Recommended visiting duration: about 6-8 hours for a one-day tour and 3-4 hours for a half-day tour.
- Wear comfortable flat shoes as there are many bluestone roads in the scenic area and the walking distance is long, which is convenient for sightseeing.
- Carry a small amount of cash as some ICH shops and old teahouses may only accept cash payments.
- Parent-child tourists can prioritize the intangible cultural heritage block and cultural and creative market, and participate in handmade experience projects to enhance interactive fun.
- Photography enthusiasts are advised to bring a camera. The light is soft in the early morning or evening, which is suitable for shooting ancient buildings and cultural landscapes.
Notes
- Wenshu Courtyard is a Buddhist temple. Please keep quiet when entering the halls and avoid loud talking, chasing and frolicking; dress appropriately and do not enter the halls wearing vests, shorts, slippers, etc.
- Smoking and littering are prohibited in the temple. Please protect cultural relics and historic sites and do not touch Buddha statues, stone carvings, paintings and colored drawings, etc. Violators will be dealt with in accordance with regulations.
- ICH experience projects must be carried out under the guidance of staff. Abide by operating norms to avoid damaging tools or materials; some projects have age restrictions, so please consult in advance.
- The flow of people in the scenic area is large, especially during holidays. Please take good care of the elderly and children, keep personal belongings safe and guard against loss.
- Respect local folk customs. When participating in temple fairs, sacrifices and other activities, follow on-site guidelines and do not arbitrarily disrupt the activity order.
- Photography is prohibited in some areas of the scenic area. Please follow the on-site sign prompts.
- Take sun protection measures when visiting in summer, such as carrying a sunshade and sunscreen; keep warm in winter as the temperature is relatively low.
- It is forbidden to bring pets, flammable and explosive items, controlled knives and other dangerous items into the core area of the scenic area.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Metro Line 1 to "Wenshu Courtyard Station" and exit from Exit D, then walk about 300 meters to the entrance of the scenic area. The whole journey takes about 15-30 minutes (depending on the departure location).
- Bus: You can take bus routes such as No.16, No.55, No.64, No.75, No.98, No.101, No.106, No.127, No.129, No.154, No.341 to "Wenshu Courtyard Station" or "Section 3 of Renmin Middle Road Station", then walk 50-200 meters to reach the scenic area.
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Wenshufang". There are 3 public parking lots around the scenic area. Parking spaces are tight during holidays, so it is recommended to travel by public transportation first.
- Taxi/Ride-hailing: Directly locate the "South Gate of Wenshufang Scenic Area", and you can enter the core tourist area after getting off the car.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours a day throughout the year.
Tickets
Free to open. Tickets are required to watch performances at Miao Theater. You can search for the official WeChat service account "成都文殊坊" to get the latest updates.
