Xishan Dajue Temple

Xishan Dajue Temple

Xishan Dajue Temple is a national AA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Dajue Temple, also known as Xishan Dajue Temple or Dajue Chan Temple, is located at the foot of Yangtai Mountain in Haidian District, Beijing. It was initially built in the fourth year of the Xianyong era during the Liao Dynasty (1068), known as Qingshui Yuan. During the Jin Dynasty, it was one of the Eight Great Water Temples of the Western Hills under Emperor Zhangzong of Jin and was then called Lingquan Temple. After being rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty, it was renamed Dajue Temple. The temple is renowned for its clear springs, ancient trees, magnolia flowers, and elegant surroundings. There are a total of 160 ancient trees on the temple grounds, including a 1,000-year-old ginkgo, 300-year-old magnolia, ancient sal trees, pines, and cypresses. Dajue Temple’s magnolia blossoms, along with the lilacs of Fayuan Temple and the peonies of Chongxiao Temple, are known as the Three Great Flowering Temples of Beijing. The Eight Wonders of Dajue Temple are: the ancient temple’s magnolia fragrance, the thousand-year-old ginkgo, the old vines clinging to cypresses, the buckthorn vines on cypresses, the Lingquan spring water, the Liao Dynasty stele, the pine and cypress embracing the pagoda, and the jade-hued clear pond.

The temple faces east and is built along the mountain slope. From east to west, it consists of four courtyards: the Heavenly King Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Amitayus Hall, and the Great Compassion Altar. In addition, there are other structures such as the Siyi Hall, the Qiyun Pavilion, the Lingyao Pavilion, and the Dragon King Hall. The Buddha statues enshrined in the temple are exquisitely crafted and vividly depicted. The “Yangtai Mountain Qingshui Yuan Creation of Scripture Repository Stele,” erected in the year the temple was built, is a precious cultural relic within the temple.

Dajue Temple enjoys an elegant environment, surrounded by mountains. The flat land in front of the temple offers a vast and open view, while the forested hills behind it are lush and dense. A clear spring flows from a crevice in the rocks behind the temple, meandering down through stone channels with a gentle murmur. The water is crystal clear and never runs dry throughout the year. In the courtyard, there is a magnolia tree transplanted from Sichuan during the Qianlong era, known for its abundant, large, snow-white, and fragrant blossoms. The tree is around 300 years old and considered the finest magnolia in Beijing. There is also a tall, ancient ginkgo tree, commonly known as the “King of White Fruits,” which requires six people to encircle its trunk. Its dense shade covers half of the courtyard, and it is said to have stood proudly for a thousand years.

Ticket price: No distinction between peak and off-peak seasons, 20 yuan all year round.

Flower Temple

Dajue Temple has a total of 160 ancient trees, including a 1,000-year-old ginkgo, 300-year-old magnolia, ancient sal trees, pines, and cypresses. In addition, there are numerous ancient trees under protection. Dajue Temple’s magnolia blossoms, along with the lilacs of Fayuan Temple and the peonies of Chongxiao Temple, are known as the Three Great Flowering Temples of Beijing.

In 1997, 0 Tea House was established within Dajue Temple. Tea rooms were set up in the Qiyun Pavilion, Siyi Hall, and the north and south side rooms and wing rooms of the temple courtyard. The Jietang (Precept Hall) was converted into a Shaoxing cuisine restaurant, monk quarters into guest rooms, including luxury suites. In addition, meeting rooms and other recreational facilities were built, and many lounge chairs and tea tables from 0 Tea House were placed in the open spaces of the courtyard. Since then, the aroma of tea has become a feature of the temple, alongside the fragrance of flowers and ancient trees. From that time on, every April, Dajue Temple hosts the Dajue Temple Magnolia Culture Festival, where visitors can admire the blooming magnolia flowers and enjoy exhibitions and cultural activities.

Address: No. 9 Dajue Temple Road, Haidian District, Beijing

Type: Temple & Historical Site

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Phone: 010-62456163; 010-62456162; 010-62456189

Opening hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket information:

Door price: 20.0 yuan

Sujiatuo Area: Sujiatuo Town is located in the northwest of Haidian District, bordering Changping and Mentougou Districts. Currently, the administrative area covers a total of 84.6 square kilometers, comprising 4 community neighborhood committees and 19 village committees. The registered population is 33,229, with 18,220 migrant residents. In 2009, the town's fiscal expenditure was 256,389,000 yuan. Sujiatuo Town boasts a beautiful natural environment, with temperatures approximately 3 degrees lower than those in the urban area year-round, and negative oxygen ion levels 150 times higher than in the city, earning it the reputation of a “green lung.” The area features natural landscapes such as Jiufeng, Yangtai Mountain, and Fenghuang Ridge, as well as cultural sites like Dajue Temple, Longquan Temple, and the Tomb of the Seventh Prince... More details about Sujiatuo Area ++

Further reading:

· The Second Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relics Protection Units in Beijing