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All China Shanghai Longhua Temple

Longhua Temple

A temple complex has existed on this site since the third century.

Shanghai, China

Added By
katielou106
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Approaching the interior of the Longhua Temple complex   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Approaching the interior of the Longhua Temple complex   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Temple gate   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
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Longhua Pagoda   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

According to legend, Sun Quan, King of the Wu Kingdom, came into possession of the cremated remains of Buddha. To house these relics, the king ordered the construction of 13 pagodas, and Longhua Pagoda is rumored to be one of them.

Longhua is a Buddhist temple, dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha. It was originally built in 242, and although most of the current buildings are reconstructions, as Longhua was destroyed towards the end of the Tang dynasty and rebuilt in 977. The temple preserves the architectural designs of a Song dynasty monastery, which follow the principles of the Chan School.  Most buildings in the temple have been rebuilt several times throughout its history, and a restoration of the whole temple was carried out in 1954.

The temple complex is made up of five main halls, laid out in a style known as the "Sangharama Five-Hall Style" which follows a central north-south pointing arrangement. 

Longhua Pagoda is the tallest structure in the Longhua temple complex, standing over 40 meters high. The seven stories of the pagoda decrease in size as they move up the height from the base. It has an octagonal layout that consists of a hollow brick core surrounded by a wooden staircase. The outside of the pagoda is decorated with balconies, banisters, and upturned eaves. The current brick base and body of the pagoda date back to 977.

Every year on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, the Longhua Temple Fair is held, a tradition that has been going on since the Ming dynasty. According to local legend, dragons visit the temple on this day to grant people's wishes. The fair also coincides with the blossoming of the peach trees in Longhua Park, which makes it a beautiful time to visit.

In the past, the temple grounds have been used as a site for internment as well as for executions. It is closely linked to the devastation of the Kuomintang regime, a period commemorated in the nearby Longhua Martyrs Cemetery, which absorbed many of the extensive gardens and orchards that once surrounded the temple.

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Pagodas Sacred Spaces Buddhism Temples

Know Before You Go

The Longhua Temple is located in the Longhua area of Shanghai.

Its street address is No. 2853 Longhua Road.

Because of its age, the pagoda is fragile and is not open to the public but can be admired from outside.

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Added By

katielou106

Published

August 31, 2023

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Longhua Temple
2853号 Longhua Rd
Xuhui Qu
Shanghai
China
31.17371, 121.451956
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Nearby Places

Longhua Martyrs Cemetery

Shanghai, China

miles away

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

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Places 31
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Longhua Martyrs Cemetery

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai French Concession

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre

Shanghai, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

China

Places 31
Stories 3

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