Harbin Puzhao Temple

Harbin Puzhao Temple

Harbin Puzhao Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Harbin Puzhao Temple is a major Buddhist nunnery in Heilongjiang Province. It is located at No. 3 Dongda Street, Nangang District, Harbin. To the east lies the Cultural Park, and to the west is the Tower Courtyard of Jile Temple. The temple covers an area of over 7,000 square meters, with a total built-up area of more than 4,000 square meters. It is named after the Buddhist concept of "universal illumination."

The temple faces south and is divided into three courtyards. The Mountain Gate Hall was built in 1995, and its plaque was inscribed by Venerable Longlian, the foremost bhikkhuni of her time. The couplets on the gate were penned by renowned calligraphers in the province, including Wang Tian, Han Shi, Hong Tiejun, and Li Dawei. On either side stand the Bell and Drum Towers, connected to two painted corridors that display oil paintings of the Four Sacred Mountains. On the altar are 108 stone statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva in various manifestations, each rescuing beings in distress through the power of hearing. These vividly colored figures are so lifelike that visitors often pause in admiration.

The second courtyard houses the Mahavira Hall, built in 1992, covering an area of over 390 square meters and standing 15 meters tall. The plaque of the Mahavira Hall was inscribed by the late Zhao Puchu, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Buddhist Association of China. At the center of the hall is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, flanked by Bhaisajyaguru Buddha on the left and Amitabha Buddha on the right. Beside Sakyamuni stand the disciples Kashyapa and Ananda. On the back wall is the statue of Guanyin of the Southern Sea, attended by Sudhana and Dragon Girl. The bodhisattvas Manjushri and Samantabhadra are positioned on either side. Along the walls are altars housing the Eighteen Arhats. All these statues were meticulously carved from white marble by artisans from Quyang County, Hebei Province. Among them, the three main Buddha statues are exceptionally exquisite and considered masterpieces.

The third courtyard consists of a three-story building. The first floor is the Vairocana Hall, where the Vairocana Buddha is enshrined in the center, with Manjushri and Samantabhadra on either side. The walls feature carved wood panels depicting the “World of the Flower Treasury,” with clearly layered landscapes and figures, exquisitely carved and vividly portrayed. The second floor houses statues of the Three Saints of the West, intricately carved from nanmu wood and gilded to radiate majesty and inspire reverence. The walls also have wood carvings of the “Pure Land of the West.” The third floor is the Scripture Depository, which enshrines Sakyamuni Buddha and Guanyin Bodhisattva. The eastern wall features carved wood panels illustrating scenes from the Buddha’s life, while the western scripture cabinets house the Shinsōzō, the Pīnjiāzàng, and the Longzàng collections.

In front of the Scripture Depository stands a pair of iron pagodas about ten meters high, engraved with thousands of Buddhas. To the left and right of the depository are the Kṣitigarbha Hall, Ancestral Hall, Longevity Hall, Dining Hall, and Meditation Hall. There are also three two-story buildings along the east and west sides of the courtyard, used as monastic dormitories and classrooms for the nuns' Buddhist academy.

Location: No. 3 Dongda Street, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province

Transportation: In Harbin, take bus routes 66, 14, 74, etc., and get off at Nantong Street Station, or take Metro Line 1 (toward Hadong Station) and get off at Engineering University Station.

Address: No. 258 Nantong Street, Nangang District, Harbin City

Type: Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 hour

Ticket Information:

Free admission.