Lingyin Temple

  The Lingyin Temple and Peak Flown from Afar offer free entries from December 1, 2025 on. All tourists need to reserve a ticket at least one day in advance. 

Lingyin Temple is situated in a narrow valley between Feilai Peak and North Peak, northwest of West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. It is undoubtedly one of the most dazzling attractions in the West Lake area and ranks among China’s ten most significant Buddhist temples. In 1961, Lingyin Temple was designated a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit and is regarded as a vital center for the study of Chinese Buddhist culture.

The history of this temple dates back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 AD). According to local legend, an Indian monk named Huili arrived here and was so moved by the scenery that he believed it must be the dwelling place of immortals. He thus named the temple “Jingxin Temple.” Because the temple’s serene and beautiful surroundings bring a sense of peace and tranquility, its Chinese name is often translated into English as “Temple of Tranquil Mind” or “Temple of Calm Mind.”

Lingyin Temple rose to prominence during the Five Dynasties period (907–960 AD), when the ruler of Wuyue ordered extensive expansions to demonstrate his devotion to the Buddha. At its peak, Lingyin Temple boasted nine main halls, eighteen pavilions and towers, seventy-seven palaces and chambers, totaling over 1,300 rooms capable of accommodating approximately 3,000 monks. Such a colossal complex is hard to imagine, let alone one that endured centuries of turmoil, suffering through wars, religious persecution, and other calamities. The main structures visible today were reconstructed in 1974, a decade after the Cultural Revolution.

Upon entering the first hall of Lingyin Temple, you will see a plaque inscribed with an inscription by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Moved by the temple’s mist-shrouded, tree-enveloped setting, he bestowed the name “Temple of Clouds and Mist.” This approximately sixty-foot-tall, double-eaved hall is called the “Hall of the Heavenly Kings.” Above its doors are carved the couplets: “Seated upon the threshold, gazing at distant mountains soaring; With a smile, welcoming spring, snow melts and streams reappear.”

Upon entering the main hall, the first thing that catches the eye is the exquisite ceiling painted with phoenixes and dragons. Flanking the Maitreya Buddha are statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. The Maitreya Buddha, depicted as a laughing Buddha with a large belly, is said to “endure all injustices and laugh at all the ridiculous people in the world.” He welcomes every visitor who enters the hall. Passing through the main hall and crossing the courtyard leads to the Great Hero Hall. The Great Hero Hall is a single-story structure, seven bays wide and five bays deep. Its double-eaved roof soars to a height of 33.6 meters (110 feet), making it possibly China’s tallest single-story building. Inside stands a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha, carved from 24 pieces of camphor wood and standing 24.8 meters (82 feet) tall. This is one of China’s largest wooden Buddha statues, entirely gilded. Flanking the statue are twenty sages on each side, said to be guardians of righteousness. Twelve disciples sit as sentinels along the rear wall. These figures are imposing and deeply impressive.

Continuing onward, you will successively reach the Medicine Buddha Hall, the Great Compassion Hall, and the Clear Spring Pavilion. Constructed over a thousand years ago during the Tang Dynasty, the Clear Spring Pavilion offers a perfect resting spot on scorching summer days, where the murmuring spring water brings waves of coolness.

Lingyin Temple houses a vast collection of precious Buddhist texts and other cultural relics, making it an ideal place for in-depth study of Chinese Buddhism. The temple’s palaces, pavilions, towers, and numerous Buddhist statues collectively form a magnificent and unique architectural and cultural heritage. The history of its structures and pagodas traces back to the Southern Song, Ming, and Tang dynasties. The collection includes ancient scriptures written on Bodhi leaves, the Diamond Sutra transcribed by Dong Qichang during the Ming Dynasty, and a woodblock-printed edition of the Diamond Sutra from the Qing Dynasty.

To conclude your Lingyin journey perfectly, consider dining at the nearby Lingyin Vegetarian Restaurant. Its authentic vegetarian dishes, enjoyed amidst such serene surroundings, are often praised as “heavenly cuisine.”

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